Church Of St Nicholas And St Cyriac

Church of St Nicholas and St Cyriac, South Pool

This is a parish church that originated in the early 14th century but was substantially rebuilt in the 15th century, with further modifications in the 16th century. The building is constructed of slate stone rubble walls beneath gable-ended slate roofs. Its plan comprises a nave, chancel, north and south aisles and transepts, a west tower, and a south porch. A vestry of 19th or early 20th century date has been added to the north of the chancel.

The earliest surviving fabric is the south porch and the adjoining section of the nave wall. The general 15th-century rebuild saw the construction of the tower, aisles, and transepts, though the north transept may predate the south aisle and transept. The windows in the south aisle and transept belong to the 16th century.

The exterior is dominated by a three-stage crenellated west tower with crocketted pinnacles and set-back buttresses. A five-sided stair turret rises on the tower's south side. The belfry openings are two-light cinquefoiled designs. The principal south doorway is of 15th-century date in the South Hams tradition, featuring a four-centred arch with roll moulding and a granite three-light Perpendicular window above. The north aisle and transept are lit by similar windows. The chancel's east window is a complete restoration in the Decorated style. On the south side of the chancel sits a 15th-century two-light mullion window with cinquefoiled heads. The windows to the south aisle and transept follow the late debased Perpendicular style. A segmental-headed granite priest's door stands on the south side of the chancel, with a shallow rectangular stair projection adjoining it. At the west end of the nave, beyond the porch, is a tall narrow light with a cinquefoiled head. The gabled porch itself has a plain rubble doorway with a four-centred head and projecting imposts.

The interior reveals a blocked square granite-framed light in the porch's side wall, now overlapped by the south aisle. A holy water stoup with a pointed arch survives. The original south doorway, constructed of chamfered dressed stones with a two-centred arch, may be contemporary with the porch. The interior walls of the church are plastered except for the tower wall. The north arcade comprises four bays and the south arcade three bays, both executed in granite with piers of Pevsner A-type, moulded cup capitals, and depressed four-centred arches. Similar arches span both transepts, carried on moulded stone corbels. The imposing tower arch features a double-chamfered arch and a five-sided jamb on either side with projecting imposts.

The roofing includes late medieval wagon roofs to the aisles and north transept, featuring moulded ribs with carved wall-plates and bosses. The nave's wagon roof has been renewed, whilst the south transept and chancel have plain plastered roofs. A fine 15th-century rood screen, restored in 1952 when the outer coving was renewed (though the central coving is missing), retains original colour on its central part. The painted Renaissance arabesque decoration on the panels likely dates to the 16th century. The parclose screens, though restored, remain well preserved.

A notable recessed 16th-century tomb stands on the north wall of the chancel, featuring a carved canopy above and a panel of resurrection behind the tomb chest. A Latin inscription records that it commemorates Thomas Bryant, Rector of South Pool and East Portlemouth, who died circa 1540. In the south chapel stands a large alabaster memorial to Leonard Darre and his wife Joan, who died in 1615 and 1608 respectively. The memorial depicts them kneeling with their two sons and three daughters behind them, flanked by Corinthian pillars supporting a flat canopy. The church contains a 12th-century tub font on a short stem, decorated with crude carved ornament.

A probably 17th-century studded plank door with moulded cover strips and fleur-de-lys strap hinges is also recorded.