Chapel Of St Nicholas

GIPPING CHAPEL GREEN TM 06 SE

5/42 Chapel of St. Nicholas - 9/12/55

GV I

Free chapel, built as a private chapel c.1474-80 for Sir James Tyrell of Gipping Hall. Since 1743, a free chapel administered by trustees. Nave and chancel; north vestry added soon after, and west tower in late C16. Walling entirely of a chequerboard pattern of squared limestone rubble and knapped flint (many of the flint panels instead have brown septaria). Freestone dressings. Plaintiled roofs. 4-centred arched windows with transomes and traceried heads. The south doorway has floral carved spandrels to the arch, and the twin windows above have linking flushwork patterning. C18 panelled doors. The buttresses also have flushwork panels and a number of carved designs in freestone. The vestry is of very similar form and detail: in the north gable is a chimney intended to appear as a splayed oriel window, with false mullions and tracery, including heraldic shields carved at the head. The vestry has a private external doorway with an inscription carved into the chamfered arched head which reads "PRAY FOR SIR JAMYS TIRELL DAME ANNE HIS WYE". The north doorway retains its original battened plank door. The tower is entirely plastered and probably of brick fabric: plastered mullioned windows and doorway and parapets. Interior: flat ceiling with cambered tiebeams, arch braces rising from shafted wallposts, and moulded cornice and purlins; the pitched roof above is believed to be a later alteration. Rood loft stairway to south of plain chancel arch. C15 font with circular bowl and octagonal stem. Sets of 4 and 5 original pews with a little carving. Interior remodelling of mid C18: panelled box pews and polygonal pulpit, altar rails and several doors. A fine painted trompe d'oeuil surround to the east window with draped columns and a swag. Fine but jumbled original stained glass in the east window. An C18 hatchment at the west end. For full illustrated description:- The Chapel of St. Nicholas, Gipping, Suffolk: Proc. Suffolk Inst. Arch. Vol. XX: Philip J. Turner, FRIBA, FRAIC.

Listing NGR: TM0720463578