Description

TORQUAY

SX9364 ILSHAM ROAD, Ilsham 885-1/15/404 (East side) 20/11/52 Ilsham Manor Oratory (Formerly Listed as: ILSHAM ROAD, Ilsham Chapel at Ilsham Manor)

GV II*

Premonstratensian oratory. C15 or earlier. Local grey limestone rubble with Beerstone dressings; gabled slate roof. PLAN: 3-stage tower with undercroft; first-floor oratory and probably second-floor chamber originally with ladder access from the oratory. EXTERIOR: 3 stages. South-east side has a ground-floor doorway to the undercroft to the left: modern lintel, shoulder-headed frame and door. To the right a flight of external stone steps leads up to the oratory door which has a timber lintel and a probably C15 recessed shoulder-headed pegged oak doorframe and C20 plank door. Shadow of gable above door may indicate former porch hood or, alternatively, abutting building. Small round-headed slit window above to the right lights chamber over oratory. Crude segmental-headed bellcote on gable. Left return has two 1-light windows, one to ground floor and one to second floor room. Arched second-floor window has remains of decayed, cusped tracery and a hoodmould, ground-floor window similar, without a hoodmould. Right return has similar second-floor window; one chamfered round-headed slit window to the oratory stage and a chamfered slit to the undercroft. The north-west face has a good Perpendicular 2-light window with a relieving arch, moulded frame, mullion and hoodmould and trefoil-headed cusped lights. Round-headed slit window to right. Smaller chamber window above, very decayed but formerly trefoil-headed with a square-headed hoodmould, flanked by small round-headed slit windows. INTERIOR: Undercroft not seen. Oratory has late C19 or C20 roof and splayed, hollow-chamfered segmental-headed reveals to the larger windows. Roof of oratory missing except for one chamfered crossbeam. HISTORY: Lands in Ilsham were given to the Premonstratensian Abbey of Torre in c1200 (Ellis) or 1489 (Pevsner). In the late C19 the tower stood surrounded by farmbuildings (the remnants of some still survive), with the manor house to its south-west. The Premonstratensian order was required to establish the building of oratories at their granges by Pope Gregory IX for individual members as places of retirement and a chapel at Higher Alfardisworthy, near Bradworthy, is said to be similar in function. Ellis includes late C19 drawings and photographs of the building. (Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Devon: London: 1952-1989: P.861; Ellis CA: An Historical Survey of Torquay, 2nd edition: 1930-: P.59-67).

Listing NGR: SX9380664125

External Links

• Wikidata Q17549919

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