Bell 1 of 1
1898
Dove Bell ID: 55719 Tower ID: 21076 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Howle Hill: St John the Evangelist
Overview
Grid reference: SO 609 208
A small Gothic chapel-of-ease in an isolated location north-east of the village of Walford (Ross-on-Wye), tucked away in the hills near the Welsh border. Built in 1875 to serve the local farm workers by the local builders Symonds, architect unknown but paid for by Mary Beatrice Philips. A compact and simple building in the Early English style.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
3-bay nave and 2-bay chancel, west belcote, south-west porch, north-east vestry and organ chamber.
Dimensions:
Nave 10m (31ft) by 6m (18’6”ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
Built in 1875 to serve the local farm workers by the local builders Symonds, architect unknown but paid for by Mary Beatrice Philips. Unchanged since.
Exterior Description
A compact and simple building in the Early English style. Stumpy buttresses of two steep weatherings define the bays. The windows are rather eccentrically designed, with no thought of symmetry evident. All windows with diagonal leading, the lancets casement.
The west wall has a plate tracery two-light with widely spaced pointed lancets and a round quatrefoil window high above.The south nave wall has a three-light stepped lancet window, and east of this a cusped lancet (the westernmost bay in both walls is blind). The north wall has a cusped lancet in the western bay and a two-light plate tracery window with a trefoil head in the eastern bay.
The chancel south wall has a two-light plate tracery window with a quatrefoil in the head above two lancets, and east of this a quatrefoil, mirrored by a cinquefoil opposite in the north wall. The east window is a three-light with cusped main lights and a large cinqefoil in the head, the central light shorter to allow space for this.
The south-west porch has a steep gable roof, and simple pointed external and internal doorways. The small north-east vestry has a lean-to roof, a simple lancet in the north wall and a shouldered doorway in the west wall.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
East window. The Last Supper.
Building Materials
Sandstone
Slate
Welsh slate roof
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the church is quite plain, the nave whitewashed and the chancel painted light blue. The furnishings and fittings are standard, with pews in the nave. Defunct boiler system in the north-west corner, with unsightly protruding pipes.
The chancel arch is of two plain orders which die into the walls, the soffit is further embellished with a hollow chamfer. The arch to the vestry is in the same style. There is an arch-headed aumbry in the north wall of the chancel.
The nave roof has arch-braces to a collar and crown posts and a false hammerbeam roof in the chancel, both taken down to corbels on granite colonettes with floriate terminals and capitals. The sanctuary floor has encaustic tiles, raised on three steps from the quarry tile floor of the chancel and nave.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1880
Table with cusped legs, dark stained pine
Reredos
1880
Tripartite limestone panel carved with quatrefoils, these coloured in blue and gold.
Pulpit
1880
Hexagonal limestone, with two tiers of panels, the upper carved with quatrefoils, moulded cornice. Integral with chancel screen.
Lectern
1880
Wooden reading stand, front carved with quatrefoils.
Font (object)
1880
Grey limestone cylindrical font with decorated rim.
Plaque (object)
Unknown
Brass plaque commemorating James P Gregson, organist and choirmaster and James Young, singer and ringer, died 20th March 1897 aged 29 years.
Plaque (object)
Unknown
Brass plaque on the chancel screen. “Mary Beatrice Philips / built and endowed this church in 1875 / Died 4th January 1898”.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 609 208
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 | 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
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.