Dolton Church of St Edmund Basics
Listed building grade 2*
Regularly open
Address
Church of St Edmund
Church Street
Dolton
Exeter
EX19 8QE
Geographical coordinates
50°53’23.5″N 4°02’04.0″W (enter these in your smartphone navigator)
Devonchurchland says…
Dolton is mighty tidy church, so well cared for by the parishioners, in a thriving village deep in rural Devon. It is also a beauty.
Inside the thirteenth century arcades, the pillars and arches, are magnificent, complementing all the other lovely interior details.
The main star surely has to be the Anglo Saxon font carved with wild abandon and lots of dragons. It is tremendous and has so much history attached to it.
The Late Medieval bench ends also have a fascinating story attached to them, local families and marriages and all.
The roof bosses from the same era are also a wonder, not easy to see due to their later staining and varnishing but well worth the effort.
Then the Victorian and later stained glass comes out to play and these windows are very good indeed.
The whole is underlined with some finely carved memorials and the fact that we are standing in such a pretty space that is so important to the community, and has been for more than a thousand years.
Outline
PLAN
- Nave
- Chancel
- North and south aisles
- West tower
- South porch
AGE
- Early C16 additions
- Restored and partially rebuilt in 1888
BUILT FROM
- Coursed rubble walls
- Rendered to top stage of tower
- Gable-ended slate roof
Exterior
WEST TOWER
- 3 stage
- Diagonal buttresses
- Crenellations and chamfered plinth
- Granite west doorway
- Tudor arch
- Roll moulded with recessed spandrels
- Square hoodmould
- Rebuilt 2-light trefoil-headed window above
- Square slits to stair turret
- On north side
SOUTH AISLE
- 3-light Perpendicular style window at east end
- South side 2 Decorated style C19 windows
- Small Tudor-headed priest’s door
- West end C19 Decorated style window
PORCH
- Rebuilt
- Pointed arch
- Small lancet on either side wall
NORTH AISLE
- Small Tudor headed doorway towards west end
- 2 3-light Decorated style windows
- Similar 2-light one at the east end
- West end C19 Decorated style window
CHANCEL
- North side 2 probably C13 lancets
- East window is large C19
- Copy of a C14 window
Interior
VARIOUS
- Both arcades have very wide pointed arches
- Chamfered
- Resting on massive chamfered piers
- Stopped capitals
- Pointed and chamfered tower arch
PORCH
- Possibly original pointed arch chamfered sandstone south doorway
FONT
- Particularly interesting
- Consists of 2 intricately carved Saxon stones
- Original purpose of which is unclear
- It is suggested they may have been formed a cross
ROOF
- Old wagon roofs to nave and aisles
- Chamfered ribs
- Carved bosses
- Carved wall-plate to chancel and south aisle
- Chancel roof renewed in 1862
BENCH ENDS
- Old bench ends survive in the south aisle
- Renaissance style
- Initials I. S. and date 1581
- Commemorating John Stafford
CHANCEL
- In the east window some old glass has been preserved
- With the Stafford arms.
- North wall memorial to Barbara Lister
- Dated 1696
- Marble plaque with elaborately carved decoration around it
- South window with memorial date of 1909
- By Hardman
Other information
Evidence of a C13 date is in the 2 lancets to the chancel and the early form of the arcades although they may have been partially rebuilt.
Tower added in circa early C16 and porch probably at the same time but rebuilt in C19.
Kelly’s Directory records that the greater part of the church was rebuilt during the restoration of 1888 but it is difficult to discern the extent of this from its fabric.
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