Chantry Chapel And Mausoleum

BRENTWOOD

TQ69SW THORNDON PARK 723-1/9/308 Chantry Chapel and Mausoleum 20/02/76 (Formerly Listed as: THORNDON PARK, West Horndon Thorndon Hall Chantry Chapel and Mausoleum)

II*

Private Roman Catholic chapel and mausoleum of the Petre family. In woodland, 392m SW of Thorndon Hall (qv). c1850. By WW Wardell. Ragstone with oolitic freestone dressings and red clay tiled roof. Gothic decorated style. L-plan of 3 bayed chapel with vestry and bellcote on S side. EXTERIOR: the whole composition has an encircling lower band of grouped mouldings and cornice containing an inscription interspersed with delicate leaf decoration. Similar inscription band under roof eaves. N elevation. The 3 bays defined by end and intermediate buttresses, two 2-light windows with head stopped hood moulds and curvilinear tracery. W bay has gabled doorway and adjacent nodding gabled niche with statue of Virgin and Child, gabled stoup below. Composition enriched by angel stops. Door, boarded with decorative ironwork. Dragon gargoyles at gable ends. S elevation, 3 bays contain, to W, window similar to those on N, to E, gabled vestry projecting S with end stack surmounted by a moulded octagonal shaft, also, on stack face a quatrefoiled roundel bearing the Petre and Clifford arms. Bellcote, in angle, of octagonal quadrant plan, comprising a stair tower with iron grilled lancet stair light and 2 lower square vents. Octagonal belfry lantern rises from decorative eaves cornice with gabled lancet openings and small defining buttresses, profuse leafy decoration and head stops, stone pyramidal roof. W end elevation, angle buttressed corners, tall 3-light window, curvilinear tracery, 2-centred arched doorway below in rectangular surround. Spandrels have relief carving of 2 scenes, the Resurrection, and Christ and Mary with Apostles in heaven. Doorway arch of 2 orders of columns and arch mouldings with leaf decoration. Door 2-leaved with iron strap hinges. E end elevation, central window, 3 lights with curvilinear tracery, additional decorative moulding below sill. To S, vestry has a rectangular window filled with intersecting cusped lancet tracery. Stained glass by Hardman & Co. INTERIOR: the building is secured against recurrent vandalism and the interior was not inspected. However, coloured photographs held by Essex County Council, taken at the time of closing show an ornate gilded and painted interior with an angel roof of the highest quality. Because of its quality the building had been attributed to AW Pugin but is now known to be by WW Wardell.

Listing NGR: TQ6148091443