Nuthurst: St Peters Mortuary Chapel
Overview
Grid reference: SP 146 717
The early history of the chapel at Nuthurst is obscure but it is said to date back to at least 1217. The chapel consists of a small chancel and a nave of four bays with the base of a bellcote on the west gable. The chancel has a single window of two lights at the east.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
The church consists of nave and chancel.
Dimensions:
Chancel 0.96m by 3.05m, nave 12.2m by 6.17m.
Description of Archaeology and History
The early history of the chapel at Nuthurst is obscure but it is said to date back to at least 1217. It is clear from an agreement and instrument of surrender of 1876 that it was, at that time, a chapel in the parish of Hampton in Arden. The present building was constructed in 1835 on the site of the old chapel and was paid for by a Mr Bolton King who had a family vault constructed under the new building. The chapel was designed to provide accommodation for seventy people, the inhabitants of Nuthurst who were unable to make the long journey to Hampton in Arden. The Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry consecrated the new chapel dedicated to St. Peter in January 1835. The possible existence of a graveyard before this time raises an interesting point about the former status of the chapel, since a dependant chapel does not normally have burials.
Meanwhile the Stratford canal had opened in 1816 and Hockley Heath became an important transit point, so much so that a new parish of Nuthurst cum Hockley Heath was created in 1878 to serve the enlarged community that grew up on the north side of the canal. The church of St Thomas, designed by John Cotton, was built in 1879 close to Hockley Heath on the south side of the canal. In 1880 an instrument was drawn up substituting the new church of St Thomas for the old church, as the parish church of the new parish of Nuthurst cum Hockley Heath. As the church of St Thomas was not provided with a graveyard, it was clearly intended that the chapel of St Peter and the associated graveyard would continue to be used. The present situation is that the chapel has fallen out of use, has been stripped of almost all furnishings and is being used for agricultural purposes while the graveyard remains open for burial. Reports on when the chapel was last used vary from 1880 to 1930.
Exterior Description
The chapel consists of a small chancel and a nave of four bays with the base of a bellcote on the west gable. The chancel has a single window of two lights at the east. The gable wall has diagonal buttresses of two weathered stages, prominent kneelers and a roll-moulded coping. The end walls of the nave are treated in the same way. The long walls have buttresses of two weathered stages and simple lancet windows with moulded hoods formed in stucco. The west door of two plain chamfered orders also has a pointed arch and hoodmould, above is a small blocked lancet. The interior has been gutted and all that remains is some plaster on the walls and a red tiled floor mostly covered with straw. The rear arches of the windows are plain-chamfered and the chancel arch is also plain- chamfered and has a four-centred head.
Building Materials
Brick
Walls
Cement
Cement render as the external finish
Plaster
Interior finish
Slate
Roofs clad with grey slates
Interior
Interior Description
The chancel roof is shallow-pitched and has a plaster ceiling divided into panels by moulded timber ribs. The nave roof has a similar pitch and is of four bays. The principal trusses have collars and braces of four-centred profile with small arches set on moulded timber wall brackets. Short queen posts support the principal rafters and the spandrels have cusped decoration. The plaster ceiling is divided into panels, eight to each bay, by moulded timber ribs, ridge and cornice.
Fixtures and fittings
Rail
1835
Running across the front of the chancel and curved to meet the chamfer of the chancel arch. The top rail is moulded and uprights have simple Gothic decoration. Central gate missing.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 146 717
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.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
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 | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
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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