Church Of St David

DAVIDSTOW DAVIDSTOW SX 18 NE 2/132 Church of St David 17.12.62 GV II*

Parish church. Probably C15. Extensively restored in 1875 by Hine of Plymouth; the restoration financed by the Pearce family. Snecked stone rubble with roughly coursed ashlar slate stone to tower. Slate roofs, nave and chancel in one. Plan: In probably C15 or early C16 the church comprised nave and chancel, 5 bay arcades to wide north and south aisles and west tower of 3 stages. Prior to the restoration Polsue described the church as far beyond mediocrity in its design and sculptured ornamentation. In circa 1875 the outer walls of the chancel and north and south aisles were rebuilt, the roofs largely replaced and the church refurnished. Exterior: Fine tower of 3 stages with set back buttresses and crocketted finials. Rectangular stair turret on north side. Windows in north and south aisles with 3- light Perpendicular C19 tracery and 5-light windows with C19 Perpendicular tracery in chancel and east end of north and south aisles. Gabled C19 south porch with waggon roof reusing earlier carved wall plate. South door of fine quality with 4-centred hollow chamfered arch with carved florets in hollow. Interior: Walls unplastered. Slate flag floors. 2 centred tower arch. C19 waggon roofs with part of reused carved wall plate in chancel. C15 5-bay arcades to north and south aisles with type A (Pevsner) piers moulded bases and capitals. Unusual font possibly C15 or earlier; square base to bowl with large curved spade stops and chamfered sides. Round moulded shaft, originally also with 4 thinner shafts at corners. Remains of circa C15 bench ends in east end of south aisle and nave. Memorials: fine ledgers stones including those of Richard Betenson and Thomas Bettenson, 1668 and 1693, John Parlon of Treglasta (qv) 1693, Francis Nicholls of Trehane (qv) 1674, and William. Pearse 1638. Memorial to Pearse family in porch, erected by rate payers of Davidstow to express thanks for new church. East window of south aisle signed by O'Connor and Taylor, London, 1876. Pevsner, N and Radcliffe, E Buildings of England, Cornwall 2nd edition, 1970. Polsue, J Lake's Parochial History of the County of Cornwall, 1867, reprinted 1974.

Listing NGR: SX1511287264