Ruins Of Priory Church

FRITHELSTOCK SS41NE 11/102 Ruins of Priory 4.10.60 Church GV. I Ruins of Augustinian Priory, founded c. 1220 by Robert de Bello Campo (Beauchamp). Ruins of priory church, in Early English style, date from soon after 1220; Lady Chapel built c. 1330 for Bishop Walter de Stapledon; west tower also of c. 1330. Walls of coursed slatestone rubble. Plan consisted of Lady Chapel to east of chancel and nave, the latter with foundations of a tower to its south west corner (adjoining Church of St. Mary and St. Gregory (q.v).) Foundations of Lady Chapel has stone altar projection to east, and priest's door to south west with roll-and-tongue stop to chamfered jambs. Similar jamb to north side of doorway to chancel. North wall of chancel has, from east, blocked pointed-arched opening, pointed-arched window opening, and pointed- arched doorway with roll-and-tongue stops to chamfered jambs and hollow-chamfered imposts. North wall of nave, which has mortice slots for roof of former cloister, has segmental arch over blocked doorway with roll-and-tongue stops to chamfered jambs; plain string course and lower sections of clerestorey windows above; at west end of this wall is a tall lancet window between two blocked doorways. Remains of arches and doorways survive at west end of north side. Wall of nave, where it entered a tower; two doorways have roll-and-tongue stops to chamfered jambs. West gable end of nave has three graduated lancets, trefoiled to centre; mid C13 pointed-arched hollow-moulded doorway below central window, has C17 frame and studded door. Inner side of north chancel wall has recess. Moulded stonework for tracery etc lies about site. History: The priory was first colonized from Hartland Abbey, and its ruins are the most notable surviving remains of a religious house in north Devon. Scheduled as an Ancient Monument. (A.M. Devon No. 13g.) (Buildings of England: North Devon, p. 88; National Monuments Record; R.P. Chope, "Frithelstock Priory", 1929); C.A. Ralegh Radford, "Frithelstock Priory and the Parish Church", Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Exploration Society, Vol. 2 (Part One), 1933, pp. 20-27).

Listing NGR: SS4638819567