Church Of St George And St Mary

TORQUAY

SX8963 COCKINGTON PARK, Cockington 885-1/16/371 Church of St George and St Mary 20/11/52

GV II*

Parish church set in landscaped grounds of nearby Cockington Court (qv). Early C13 origins but most of fabric is C14 or C15. Restoration 1882-3 by Hine and Odgers and 1916-20 by Charles Nicholson (architect) and Herbert Read (restoration of screen). Local stone rubble with red sandstone and Beerstone dressings, gable-ended slate roofs. PLAN: Nave and chancel with north and south aisles, the chancel projecting very slightly. C18 or early C19 north porch and C19 vestry on south side of west tower. EXTERIOR: Low tower of 2 stages with crenellated parapet, corner pinnacles, diagonal buttresses and stair turret projecting from middle of north wall. Probably C17 west doorway, 2-centred arch with ovolo surround. North and south aisles with 4-window fronts of 3-light Perpendicular windows with hoodmoulds, another taller version at east end of chancel. Gabled north porch to small round-headed doorway. INTERIOR: West door has ancient plank door with coverstrips and strap hinges. Unmoulded round arch to nave. Nave and aisle open waggon roofs replaced in 1950 incorporating some old bosses. No chancel arch. 5-bay arcades (5th bay overlapping chancel) with moulded Beerstone piers (Pevsner's type B); carved capitals to south, plain to north. Walls stripped of plaster. Ancient doorway blocked by east wall of north aisle. Flag floor. Tower appears to contain evidence of priest's chamber (see Church Guide). Fixtures and Fittings: Mostly C19 and C20 including reredos by Hems of Exeter (1881) and lectern (1922). Choir stalls include a couple of medieval misericords said to come from Torre Abbey. Late C17 communion rails with twisted balusters. Chancel screen and parclose screens restored by Herbert Read of Exeter 1916-20 incorporating fragments of original C15 timber. Good late C16 timber pulpit with "wine glass" stem and panelled sides enriched with Renaissance ornament, said to come from Torre Church. Some C15 benches with carved bench ends. Good C15 Beerstone font with Perpendicular decoration. C17 bell with reverse inscription set in south aisle. Memorials: Only pre-C19 memorials are graveslabs in floor; best are early C18 in memory of two John Easterlys. Glass: Some fragments of C15 glass in south aisle The church forms part of an exceptionally good group of listed buildings in Cockington Park and the adjacent unspoilt village. (Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Devon: London: 1952-1989: P.834-5; Seymour D: Church guide: 1990-).

Listing NGR: SX8907563784