Chapel Of St Peter Ad Vincula

THE TOWER OF LONDON TQ 3380 21/889 Chapel of St Peter-ad- Vincula

GV I

Chapel. c.1519-20, restored 1876-7 when west tower rebuilt and north-east vestry built. Render over ragstone with ashlar quoins and dressings; lead roof. Plan of chancel and nave with north aisle. Early Tudor style. 5-bay south elevation has hood-moulds over 3-light Tudor-arched windows with cinquefoil-headed lights; similar windows to north elevation; similar 5-light east window; moulded cornice beneath parapet with moulded coping; west end has late C19 quatrefoil window over late C19 Tudor-arched doorway and flint tower with Portland stone dressings and late C17 wood bell cupola. 1876-7 vestry built in similar Tudor style. Interior: 4-bay north arcade of quatrefoil-section piers with moulded plinth and capitals to moulded Tudor-arched arcade; moulded beams to flat tie-beam roofs. Nave has squint and round-arched piscina with sunk spandrels to west, and octagonal font with quatrefoil panels. Memorials: sanctuary has late C19 memorial to those executed on Tower Green and C17/18 memorial slabs. Memorial of c.1650 to children of George Payler has figures set in oval niches; memorial to Allan Apsley, d.1630, has cartouche on segmental open-pedimented aedicule; plain memorial tablet to Talbot Edward, d.1674; memorial tablet with bust to General William Bridges, d.1716, with bust in aediculed surround; fine alabaster and marble memorial of c.1620, with groups of kneelers set in classical frame, to Sir Richard and Sir Michael Blount, in north wall of chancel; fine alabaster tomb chest with recumbent effigies to Sir Richard Cholmondley, d.1544, and wife; memorial to Captain Valentine Pyne, d.1677, flanked by cannon instead of columns with relief carving of ship to base. Fine monument to John Holland, Duke of Exeter, d.1447 (transferred from St Katherin's Chapel, Regent's Park) has tomb chest with 3 recumbent effigies framed within fine Perpendicular canopy with angles to spandrels and frieze, various beasts and grotesques and carved heads to cusping. Organ by Father Schmidt, 1699, for the Banqueting Hall, Whitehall. History: formerly a parish church of the city taken within the castle walls by the extensions of Henry III; a rare example of an early C16 chapel.

Listing NGR: TQ3356080598