Crispe Almshouses And Chapel

MARSHFIELD C.P. HIGH STREET (north side) ST 7773 13/114 Crispe Almshouses and chapel 17.9.52 (formerly listed as Almshouses)

G.V. II*

Row of 8 almshouses and central chapel. Dated "1612" - "1619", for the Crispe family. Ashlar; Cotswold stone slate roof with coped raised verges and saddle stones; overhanging eaves and convex moulded cornice; ashlar ridge and stacks with moulded cornice. Single storey on a plinth and attics in 8 stone gables which are coped and have a typical Cotswold finial. Single window and door per house; the plank doors are grouped in 4 pairs. 2-light casement windows with ovolo moulded mullions and surrounds, under a continuous string course on the ground floor and under drip moulds in the gables; the centre 2 windows flanking the porch have semi-circular heads. Single storey projecting porch to the chapel; embattled parapet, and segmental headed door surrounds, ovolo moulded on the exterior and chamfered on the interior. Above the porch is a central wide gable which bears 2 sets of Crispe armorial bearings between 3 Corinthian style engaged columns under an entablature and cornice. Central square clocktower, surmounted by a broached octagonal spire which has a mushroom shaped finial and a weathervane. Interior: stop chamfered beams to the houses; plain interior to the chapel with two inward leaning piers which support the tower. The westernmost gable is inscribed: "1612./10.DIE.AUGUSTI./THOMAS.CRISPE./FILIVS./ NICHOLAV.CRISPE./POSVIT.HVNC.LAPIDEM.". The easternmost gable is inscribed: "1619./30:DIE:IVLII:/NICHOLAVS:CRISPE:/FILIVS:ELTAE:CRISPE:/POSVIT:HVNC:LAPIDEM:" A very good example of C17 vernacular almshouses, occupying a very important site as the first building in the village street.

Listing NGR: ST7739073771