Elston Chapel Explained

Elston Chapel
Imagealt:A small, simple stone church with a red tiled roof. On the left is the nave with a round-headed doorway, and to the right is the smaller chancel
Pushpin Map:Nottinghamshire
Pushpin Mapsize:200
Map Caption:Location in Nottinghamshire
Location:Elston, Nottinghamshire
Country:England
Coordinates:53.0263°N -0.8647°W
Osgraw:SK 762 482
Denomination:Anglican
Functional Status:Redundant
Heritage Designation:Grade I
Designated Date:25 February 52
Architectural Type:Church
Style:Norman, Gothic
Materials:Stone, tiled roofs

Elston Chapel is a redundant Anglican church to the north-east of the village of Elston, Nottinghamshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It stands in a field and is described as a "solitary barn-like chapel".

History

Formerly a parish church, the chapel dates from the 12th century, with additions and alterations made in the 14th and 16th centuries. The chapel was created as a separate parish in 1584 and later became a chapelry to East Stoke. In the early 19th century its interior was fitted with pine pews and a gallery. However, by 1872 it was disused and was transferred to the parish of All Saints, Elston.

There is speculation that the chapel was formerly the chapel of a medieval leper hospital dedicated to Saint Leonard. The church was declared redundant on 23 September 1976, and was vested in the Churches Conservation Trust on 9 February 1976.

Architecture

The chapel is constructed in coursed rubble stone with tile roofs, and consists of a nave and a smaller and lower chancel. In the west wall are two small rectangular windows with a larger rectangular window above. In the north wall of the nave is a two-light window with ogee arches and, to the east in a slightly projecting bay is a single-light window with a pointed arch. The north wall of the chancel contains a two-light window under a flat arch. The east end of the chancel has buttresses, and contains a three-light window with ogee arches under a flat head. The date 1577 is inscribed over the window, and at the apex of the gable is the fragment of a cross. The south wall of the chancel and the nave both contain a two-light window under ogee arches. The south doorway dates from the 12th century, and is in Norman style with a round arch and zigzag decoration. Inside the church fragments of the 19th-century fittings still present. There are several layers of paintings on the walls, including Georgian biblical texts and, on the north wall, a large royal coat of arms.

See also