Church Of St Hydroc

Church of St Hydroc

A parish church of granite ashlar with slate roofs, probably dating from the early 15th century and enlarged in the later 15th century. The church underwent alterations circa 1621 by Sir Richard Robartes, and the south aisle is dated 1736 (inscription now not wholly legible). The building was restored and the chancel extended in 1886.

The roofs are finished with crested ridge tiles, raised coped verges, and cross finials to the gable ends. The north wall of the north aisle is constructed in granite rubble.

The plan consists of a nave and chancel in one continuous structure. The north aisle was added in the mid-to-late 15th century. The south aisle, south porch, and west tower were added in the late 15th century. In 1886, a doorway was inserted in the east end of the north aisle and the chancel was extended beyond the aisles to each side.

Exterior

The nave is concealed by the aisles. The chancel sits on a moulded plinth and features a 3-light Perpendicular window with a 19th-century hood mould. The north aisle has a plinth to the north and west, rebuilt with hollow-chamfered mullions. The south porch is gabled with a plinth continuous with the aisle. The outer doorway has a depressed 4-centred arch with clustered shafts to the sides, ring-moulded capitals, and recessed spandrels with carved leaves. A square hood mould with label stops completes the design; the wooden gates date from the 19th century. The interior of the porch has a granite-paved floor and rendered walls, with granite benches to either side. Above is a late 15th-century wagon roof with carved wall-plates, ribs, and bosses. The inner doorway features a 4-centred arched opening with wave and hollow moulding; the door is studded and was remade in the 19th century with strap hinges and a wooden case lock.

The west tower rises in three stages on a hollow-chamfered plinth with weathered string courses. It has an embattled parapet with pinnacles and crocketed obelisks, and lancets on the north side for the stair. The west doorway dates from the 19th-century restoration and has a 4-centred arch with moulding, hood mould, and relieving arch, with double doors. The west window is a 3-light 19th-century Perpendicular window with hood mould. The third stage of the tower contains three 3-light bell-openings with 4-centred arches, hood moulds, and cusped lights featuring Perpendicular tracery.

Interior

The walls are plastered except for the arcades. All roofs are ceiled 19th-century wagon roofs; the nave incorporates re-used 15th-century bosses. A tall 4-centred tower arch with imposts separates the nave from the chancel.

The north arcade comprises four bays with Pevsner A-type piers, plain capitals, and 4-centred arches. All windows in the north aisle have nook-shafts with hollow-moulded capitals. The north window includes a panel of plasterwork with 17th-century strapwork.

The south arcade also contains four bays with Pevsner A-type piers, but the capitals are in a differently coloured granite and carved with geometric designs. The arches are 4-centred with chamfered mouldings. All south windows have nook-shafts extending down to floor level with slender, hollow-chamfered sides; in the east window, the nook-shafts extend only to cill level.

Fittings and Monuments

The 19th-century stone font stands in the nave. The 19th-century wooden benches, pulpit, marble reredos with piscina and aumbries, and brass and wrought-iron communion rail all date from the 1886 restoration. The nave also contains a 20th-century stuffed owl.

In the north aisle is a fine plaster coat of arms without colour, belonging to James I, and an oil-on-board shield of arms for the Hon. Charles Bagenal-Agar, died 1811.

The south aisle contains a pair of slate tablets with Latin and English verses, painted and gilded slate shields of arms, and pilasters, commemorating George Carminow and his wife Jane, both 1599. A marble tablet on a slate ground commemorates Thomas Jane (1848), Nicholas Cole (1821), and Mary Cole (1855).

In the north aisle stands a fine marble monument to Lady Essex Speccot, died 1689, featuring an inscription panel, Corinthian columns, a broken segmental pediment with shield of arms and skulls, scrolled supporters, an apron with putto and corbels, and lion masks.