Description

ILFRACOMBE

SS5147 CHURCH HILL
853-1/6/89 (North side)
12/03/90 Lychgate to Parish Church of Holy
Trinity on south side
(Formerly Listed as:
HOLY TRINITY CHURCHYARD
Lychgate on south side, opening on
to Church Hill)

GV II

Lychgate. 1894, by Henry Wilson of London. Wood, on stone
pedestals; rendered brick panels. Slated roof with leaded
ridge. Arts and Crafts style.
The structure consists of a broad central arch with lower,
narrower openings at either side. The main arch is carried on
4 massive square posts with moulded bases, these resting on
stone pedestals with moulded caps and bases; the shafts of the
pedestals are cut from single pieces of stone. The sides of
the archway are filled with almost equally massive
timber-framing.
The lowest panels are of cemented red brick, but those in the
middle are open, with moulded wood mullions and ornamental
iron bars. In the solid wood upper panels are the
inscriptions: TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF JOHN MILL
CHANTER FOR FIFTY ONE YEARS THE BELOVED VICAR OF THIS PARISH.
On the centre studs of the framing are the dates 1836 and
1887.
The flat, plank ceiling is supported by 3 chamfered, 4-centred
arches, the outer 2 of which carry shields carved with
coats-of-arms.
The side openings are simpler, each with a single square
wooden post on the outside, now resting on a concrete plinth;
long moulded brackets run north and south from it to support
the plank ceiling.
The whole structure is covered with a pitched roof having
swept eaves with a moulded wood cornice beneath. The leaded
ridge is decorated each side with 3 flowers, and there is a
shaped finial at the west end; a matching finial appears to
have been removed from the east end.
The main arch rises above eaves-level and has on each side a
flat, deeply projecting canopy carried by pairs of carved
brackets attached to the main posts. The edges of the hoods
are moulded and finished with an ornately patterned lead
cresting.
The gates within the openings are of wood with decorated iron
strap hinges. The lower parts of the gates have sunk panels
with applied strapwork; the upper parts are open with flat
shaped balusters. The heads of the uprights are carved with
dolphins. The western side-gate has been removed.
The structure is beginning to deteriorate. Apart from the
missing lead finial, the ornamental iron bars have rusted
badly and 2 have gone entirely. The base of the main
south-eastern post has gone, and several large cracks are
opening in other parts of the woodwork.
HISTORY: Henry Wilson (1864-1934) was chief assistant to JD
Sedding, 1888-91, and carried on his practice. He has been
describved as 'arguably the most inspired
architect-designer-craftsman of the Arts and Crafts movement'.
(The Buildings of England: Cherry B: North Devon; Hussell AT:
Ilfracombe Chronicle, 30.7.1937: 2; Service A: Edwardian
Architecture: 1977-: 45-46, 212).

Listing NGR: SS5139147261

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26570898

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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