Chantry House

Chantry House is a house with origins in the medieval period, largely rebuilt in the 18th century. It is constructed of deeply-coursed sandstone and limestone rubble, with a Welsh slate and concrete tile roof. The building follows an L-shaped plan.

The exterior presents two storeys with a cellar. The front has a four-window arrangement, and the right return has a three-window arrangement facing North Church Street. The central bay of the front features a part-glazed six-panel door within a porch featuring trellising and a swept leaded roof. Stone sills are surrounded by ashlar, and there is an eight-pane sash window to the left of the porch, and two six-pane sashes above. Bay one has two-light, square-faced mullioned windows with four-pane sashes. Bay four has eight-pane sashes on each floor, an arcaded plaque to the gable, and ashlar copings. A stone end stack is located on the left, with a ridge stack and a rendered stack behind the gable of bay four. The rear has irregular masonry and a 17th-century panelled door, now painted and partly glazed. The right return is of rubble limestone with a battered plinth and large quoins. Steps lead up to the left end, with a winding stone staircase and iron handrail leading to a doorway on the right. Large tripartite sash windows with glazing bars are set into a chamfered string course. A medieval carving, appearing to depict a horse’s head, projects from the wall above. The first floor has a tripartite sash and two four-pane sashes.

Inside, the entrance to the arched cellar is chamfered and quoined. The early 19th-century staircase has turned newels and square rods, with earlier balusters to the landing.

Historical records suggest the site has been associated with the priest engaged by the Chantry of Our Lady since the 12th century or possibly earlier. Following the Dissolution of the Chantries in 1547, Sir Richard Manners purchased the freehold. Documents from the 17th century refer to rebuilding of churchyard walls. A major rebuilding scheme took place in 1781, prompting the Society of Antiquaries to publish a drawing of the earlier fabric. This drawing shows a house of similar form, with mullioned windows and a suggested round-arched doorway to the first floor, characteristic of a first-floor hall house. The drawing also depicts a gable plaque featuring a chalice and missal framed by ancient lettering.