Holbeton Church of All Saints Basics
Listed building grade 1
Regularly open
Address
Church of All Saints
Church Hill
Holbeton
Plymouth
PL8 1LN
Geographical coordinates
50°20’06.7″N 3°57’01.0″W (enter these in your smartphone navigator)
Devonchurchland says…
Holbeton Church is just magnificent, and I am not just talking about the 13/14th century tower and spire, but also the fusion of old and quality Victorian that John Dando Sedding brought with his gorgeous restoration of 1885. It is a real tour de force by one of the pre-eminent church architects of the count.
To start with there is a stunning south door by Sedding himself, and then just inside a Norman font with some fascinating carvings.
Then there is a magnificent rood screen, the design unique in Devon, with the two aisles having the original 15th century screens and the nave a very good indeed Victorian reproduction.
In the chancel there is a fine East Window by Heywood Sumner, a beautifully carved sedilia and even more beautiful carving in the choir stalls. As if this was not enough, the altar is a glamorous Arts and Crafts marriage of metalwork and Devon marble, just delicious.
Back in the nave there is another marvel of late Victorian carving, the limestone pulpit. It is a humdinger.
Some striking 20th century stained glass by Hugh Easton also adds to the fun.
But the highlight of this church surely has to be the complete set of Late Victorian pews with the most glorious carved bench ends; intricate foliage, delightful wildlife, Gothic motifs, Green men, delight upon delight, worth hours of enjoyment in themselves.
This is a church restoration by a famous Arts and Crafts architect at the peak of his game, and really deserves a visit or five to enjoy as deeply as its wonder asks.
Outline
PLAN
- Nave
- Chancel
- North aisle and chapel
- South aisle and chapel
- South transept
- North transept
- West tower and spire
- South Porch
AGE
- Late C13 to early C14 west tower and spire
- Remainder circa early C16
- Well restored by J.D. Sedding and completed in 1889
BUILT FROM
- Coursed slate rubble with granite dressings
- Including moulded granite plinth
- Slate roofs
Exterior
WEST TOWER
- Tall, plain
- C13/14
- Three stages
- Slightly set back buttresses with set-offs
- Corbelled embattled parapet
- Tall octagonal recessed stone spire
- Cusped lancet bell-openings
- Hood moulds
- Three on east and west sides
- One on north and south sides
- Stair turret on north side
- Projecting externally up to belfry only
- Chamfered two-centred arch west doorway
- Hood mould
- Restored Perpendicular window above
VARIOUS
- In one
- Large five-light four-centred arch east window
- Perpendicular panel tracery
- Buttresses with set-offs
- Set back from the corners at the east end
NORTH AISLE
- Long
- Perpendicular intersecting traceried window
- Perpendicular panel traceried window at the east end
SOUTH AISLE
- Long
- Restored Perpendicular windows
- Four-centre arch south doorway
- Carved spandrels
PORCH
- Late C19
- Reset four-centre arch doorway
- Late C19 wrought iron gate
Interior
VARIOUS
- Spacious
- Broad nave
- Transept arches
- Tall two-centred tower arch
- Imposts
- Squints from aisles and transepts
- Late C19 unceiled wagon roof by Sedding
- Carved bosses
- Some reused
- Angels in the chancel
- Good furnishings by Sedding
- Including screens, choir stalls, benches, sedilia, wainscot, lectern and south door
- Late C19 carved stone pulpit
- Late C19 marble font
- Norman font with flat square bowl
ARCADES
- Five bay north and south arcades
- Wide moulded four-centred arches
- Granite monolithic piers
- Alternating shafts and hollows
- Moulded capitals and bases
- Carved leaf capitals on aisle chapel arcades
SCREENS
- Fine mid-late C15
- Restored by Sedding
MONUMENTS
- In north chapel
- Hele family
- Circa 1625
- 22 kneeling figures in four tiers
- Central reclining effigy of Sir Thomas Hele in armour
- south aisle
- Small C17 pedimented wall monument
- 1698 wall monument
- South transept
- Peter Perring 1796
- Chancel
- Elizabeth Bulteel 1835
- Female figure standing over a sarcophagus
- James Bulteel and family 1801
- By Coade and Sealy
- Large putti and urn
Other information
A beautiful church with stunning Victorian woodwork, brilliantly restored by John Dando Sedding in 1889
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