Description

BRENTWOOD

TQ69SW THORNDON PARK
723-1/9/308 Chantry Chapel and Mausoleum
20/02/76
(Formerly Listed as:
THORNDON PARK, West Horndon
Thorndon Hall Chantry Chapel and
Mausoleum)

II*

Private Roman Catholic chapel and mausoleum of the Petre
family. In woodland, 392m SW of Thorndon Hall (qv). c1850. By
WW Wardell. Ragstone with oolitic freestone dressings and red
clay tiled roof. Gothic decorated style. L-plan of 3 bayed
chapel with vestry and bellcote on S side.
EXTERIOR: the whole composition has an encircling lower band
of grouped mouldings and cornice containing an inscription
interspersed with delicate leaf decoration. Similar
inscription band under roof eaves. N elevation. The 3 bays
defined by end and intermediate buttresses, two 2-light
windows with head stopped hood moulds and curvilinear tracery.
W bay has gabled doorway and adjacent nodding gabled niche
with statue of Virgin and Child, gabled stoup below.
Composition enriched by angel stops. Door, boarded with
decorative ironwork. Dragon gargoyles at gable ends. S
elevation, 3 bays contain, to W, window similar to those on N,
to E, gabled vestry projecting S with end stack surmounted by
a moulded octagonal shaft, also, on stack face a quatrefoiled
roundel bearing the Petre and Clifford arms. Bellcote, in
angle, of octagonal quadrant plan, comprising a stair tower
with iron grilled lancet stair light and 2 lower square vents.
Octagonal belfry lantern rises from decorative eaves cornice
with gabled lancet openings and small defining buttresses,
profuse leafy decoration and head stops, stone pyramidal roof.
W end elevation, angle buttressed corners, tall 3-light
window, curvilinear tracery, 2-centred arched doorway below in
rectangular surround. Spandrels have relief carving of 2
scenes, the Resurrection, and Christ and Mary with Apostles in
heaven. Doorway arch of 2 orders of columns and arch mouldings
with leaf decoration. Door 2-leaved with iron strap hinges. E
end elevation, central window, 3 lights with curvilinear
tracery, additional decorative moulding below sill. To S,
vestry has a rectangular window filled with intersecting
cusped lancet tracery. Stained glass by Hardman & Co.
INTERIOR: the building is secured against recurrent vandalism
and the interior was not inspected. However, coloured
photographs held by Essex County Council, taken at the time of
closing show an ornate gilded and painted interior with an
angel roof of the highest quality. Because of its quality the
building had been attributed to AW Pugin but is now known to
be by WW Wardell.

Listing NGR: TQ6148091443

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Thorndon Park Chapel at Wikipedia
• Thorndon Park Chapel official website
• Wikidata Q7796369

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)