Chapel At Sheldon

The chapel at Sheldon is probably of late 15th-century origin, with renovations undertaken in the late 20th century. It is no longer consecrated. The building is constructed of colourwashed rendered cob and stone with a thatched, gabled roof. The plan is a simple rectangular single cell aligned east to west.

The exterior is very plain. Steps lead up to the doorway on the south side, with two long, 20th-century slit windows to the right, illuminating the altar. Small, one-light slit windows filled with 20th-century coloured glass are set into the west and east walls.

Inside, there is 20th-century bench seating around the west, north, and south walls. A remarkable, unceiled, late 15th-century wagon roof with moulded ribs is a key feature; wall plates are carved with a bold beaded ribbon. The north wall plate is partly supported by small, plain corbels, and the roof bays do not appear to be perfectly aligned with the space. White’s Devon (1850) documented the existence of an ancient chapel at Sheldon.