Tower Of Former Church Of St Mary Immediately West Of Dartington Hall

DARTINGTON SX7862-SX7962 DARTINGTON HALL 12/121 Tower of Former Church of St Mary immediately W of Dartington Hall (formerly listed as Tower of Old Church) 9.2.61

GV I

Former parish church tower. Probably C13. The top stage is probably C15. The rest of the church was demolished in circa 1878 and some of the material reused in the new Church of St Mary (qv) of 1878-80 by J L Pearson situated about 1200 metres to the west. Rendered stone rubble with granite coping and string course. Square on plan unbuttressed west tower with slight batter. Tall first stage; string courses at the bell-stage and below the parapet which has moulded battlements. 3-light square-headed bell openings on east and north sides. 2-light 4-centred arch head openings on the south and west sides. Granite 3-light 2-centred arch west window with Early English lancet tracery. Moulded granite 2-centred arch west doorway. Stair turret on the east end if the north side is square on plan with a splayed north west corner, battlements and slit windows and a 2 centred arch doorway on the east side at the base of the turret. The east side of the tower has a tall 2-centred tower arch, now blocked with rubble, the arch has cement mouldings. Slate sundial on the south side with an iron gnomon. Interior: on the north side a large monument to Sir Arthur Champernowne died 1578 with fluted pilasters and a later entablature with a neo- classical frieze, the inscription on the panel has been painted over; below the panel in relief are figures in prayer standing and kneeling; the pedestal below has panels with armorial bearings and terms supporting the cornice. On the east wall a monument to Henry Champernowne died 1650, and aedicule flanked by Ionic columns with an entablature with obelisks and arms above. Another monument to Rawlin Champernowne, above. 3 other monuments on the south wall. The church was possibly founded by the Fitzmartins in the C13 as a rural oratory on their manor. Sir Nicholas Fitzmartin was the patron on the first rector in 1261. In 1849 the church is described as having a chancel, 2 chantries, nave, north and south aisles, south porch land western tower - Exeter Diocesan Architectural Society, 1949 volume 3 page 156. Cresswell states that when the church was restored in 1852 the foundations of an earlier transepted church were revealed under the floor showing the old churches plan to be; nave, transepts, chancel and west tower. To this early church the lower stage of the tower seems to belong. The upper stage of the tower may have been added in the C15. The aisles were also added in the C15 by the Holands Dukes of Exeter. Kebble and Newman both preached here (in 1831?) when staying at the parsonage, now old Postern (qv). Beatrix F Cresswell, Notes on Devon Churches, Deanery of Totnes.

Listing NGR: SX7978062693