Dulas: St Michael
Overview
Grid reference: SO 371 294
This is a small Victorian estate church of attractively mottled stone in a picturesque rural setting, set into a steep slope above the road against a backdrop of a wall of evergreen trees. An estate church, designed in the Early English style, it appears to have been an expensive piece of work, with attention to detail.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
3-bay nave with north porch and 2-bay chancel with north vestry.
Dimensions:
Nave approximately 10m (33ft) x 6m (19ft)
Footprint of Church buildings: 170 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
There is a suggestion in the SMR entry that there was a Benedictine priory at Dulas, and that the monks possibly moved to Ewyas Lacy in the late 11th century when the castle was rebuilt there after the Conquest. The old church demolished in 1865 appears to have been an early 12th-century building or earlier, though evidence is scarce. It is shown on an estate map of 1775 and the OS map of 1833. Only the arch of this date rebuilt in the gardens and some of the post-Reformation furnishings and fittings, most of which appear to have been brought in almost as souvenirs, survive.
The new church was built in 1865 by George Cowley Haddon of Hereford, a prolific architect in the region (who also substantially rebuilt the nearby church of St Mary at Ewyas Harold), for Robert Feilden of Dulas Court, the patron, on a new site. The old church was demolished as the Victorian mansion and new church were built, local tradition has it that the owner did not wish to have interments so close to the new house. The formerly Welsh parishes in this area were transferred from the Diocese of St David’s to Hereford in 1852.
The site of the old church is of considerable archaeological significance, and the Sites and Monument Record should be consulted before any development or works are considered. The new church site is of minimal potential.
Exterior Description
The nave west front has a battered stepped plinth rising to the cill of a plate tracery window of two lancets with a quatrefoil roundel in the head. The south elevation is very simple, with a slender pointed lancet to each bay of the nave. The main north elevation has two differing windows to the nave between porch and vestry, the eastern a 2-light plate tracery window with a trefoiled roundel in the head, the other a stepped 3-light lancet window with trefoiled heads.
The gable end of the vestry has two slim pointed lancets with a transom under a trefoiled roundel, there is a shouldered doorway reached by a flight of steps in the west wall. A rainwater hopper here has the initials RF of the patron, Robert Feilden. East of this is a single trefoil headed lancet to the chancel. The east window is a 3-light with a sexfoil in the head. The south wall has a plate tracery window with a quatrefoil roundel, and east of this a cinquefoil roundel.
The north-west porch has a pointed entrance with continuous double chamfer flanked by small buttresses. Three steps up. The inner plank door still shows signs of forced entry, witness to one of the most determined attacks on the church by burglars.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1870
East window, the Good Shepherd with subsidiary scenes from the life of Ruth in the side lights, dedicated in memory of the wife of Robert Feilden of Dulas Hall, c 1870. A good window by Clayton & Bell, worthy of preservation.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is quite plain, with exposed stone walls and a good arch-braced roof with collars and king-posts in the nave and barrel-vaulted roof in the chancel. Looking west, there are three panels of carved 17th-century woodwork mounted on the west wall depicting the Nativity, the Last Supper and the Crucifixion probably local in origin, below a tympanum carved with Adam and Eve and the Serpent, perhaps Flemish. Looking east, there is also a 17th-century panelled pulpit and lectern, and a chair in the chancel. These all appear to be individual items, brought together by a collector.
The pews are presumably of c 1865, oak with open backs, quite unusual; some at each end have been removed. There is a plain stone chancel screen with wrought iron gates and oak rail, the pointed moulded chancel arch dies into the walls. Prayer rails on each side of the chancel, clergy desk, unremarkable. The nave and chancel have quarry tiles with encaustic borders, the sanctuary and font area has elaborate encaustic tiles. Three steps to the chancel and two to the sanctuary and to the high altar. The stone reredos and stained glass of the east window impart some colour and texture. Piscina to south wall, sedilia to north under the window.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1865
Oak table with turned legs. Jacobean style.
Reredos
1865
Stone triptych carved with the Last Supper, some polychromy. Brass strip records dedication by the Feilden family in 1868 in memory of Louisa Willis Feilden.
Pulpit
C17
Oak, five sides of an octagon with carved panels including one with a mitred Bishop or saint
Lectern
C17
Oak with twisted baluster stem and carved sloping bookrest cut together, replaced foot.
Font (object)
1865
Marble circular font carved with dogtooth around the rim, with four supporting black marble colonettes. Flat lid.
Organ (object)
1866
Small one-manual chamber organ by John Fincham. Given to the church by the Feilden family in 1919. Attractive Gothick case, an interesting instrument, unaltered except for the addition of hand pump and electric blower.
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Italian, Walnut. arms carved with dragon scale, legs have male and female figures, high back with panel with carved cartouche, mask and flanking armorini.
Simpler English chair. Turned legs and carved seat rail, sloping arms, back with carved arched panel enclosing flower, lozenge panel with cresting carved with whorls, one turned finial missing.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 371 294
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard has war graves.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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