Royal Agricultural College Chapel

CIRENCESTER

SP0001 A 429 578-1/5/5 (North West side) 23/07/71 Royal Agricultural College Chapel (Formerly Listed as: TETBURY ROAD Royal Agricultural College)

GV II

Chapel. c1846-1850. By SW Daukes. Coursed squared limestone with ashlar dressings; artificial stone slate roof with coped verges with paired trefoil head stops over kneelers. Five-bay rectangular plan. Decorated style. South side has four 2-light pointed windows with traceried heads, clear leaded glass, hoodmoulds; studded plank door with decorative strap hinges in moulded stone surround with pointed head and hoodmould to westernmost bay; similar smaller door to easternmost bay. 5 buttresses with weathered offsets. Deep plinth with chamfered offset and moulded top; top course of weathered offset on buttresses continued as weathered band course below windows. Moulded stone eaves cornice. Probable base of former cross or finial at apex of west gable, stone cross at apex of east gable. East end has 4-light window in similar style to south side with stained glass; triangular window with Decorated tracery in gable above. North side of chapel similar to south side. INTERIOR has west gallery with stone tracery and carved ornament on agricultural themes including arms of college to front, stone screen below with glazed lights with cusped heads; stone fireplace in gothic style below gallery, closed string stick baluster staircase to gallery. Three tiers of panelled oak pews with poppyhead decoration; octagonal stone font with carved decoration; octagonal oak pulpit with carved panelled sides on moulded stone base; carved oak desk and chair in similar style to pews. Stone arcade lining chancel walls with pointed cusped heads on marble columns, brass memorial plates on carved stone panels behind. Ball-flower decoration to cornice and window hoods with carved stops. 5-bay arch-braced roof with angel corbels, 2 tiers of windbraces, trenched purlins. C19 organ Gray and Davison, London in gallery. Stained glass in E window by Paul Quail c 1964 in memory of Robert "Bobby" Boutflour, Principal of College 1931-58 whose ideas on feeding dairy cows have revolutionised dairy industry throughout world. Chapel constructed shortly after main College building because of complaints from parishioners that students monopolised pews in Cirencester Parish Church on Sundays. (The Buildings of England: David Verey: Gloucestershire: The Cotswolds: London: 1970-: P 183; Information displayed inside Chapel).

Listing NGR: SP0046801252