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Holy Trinity, West Woolfardisworthy, Devon

Location
(50°57′57″N, 4°22′31″W)
West Woolfardisworthy
SS 333 212
pre-1974 traditional (England and Wales) Devon
now Devon
medieval Exeter
now Exeter
  • Hazel Gardiner

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Description

The church was originally cruciform in the 12thc., but only the S transept and the S doorway retain features from this period. The church has a 13thc. W tower, 14thc. nave and 16thc. N aisle. An inscription on the exterior S wall by the porch states that the church was rebuilt in 1698. The porch is 19thc. and was probably built at the time of the 1872 restoration.

History

Woolfardisworthy is listed under 'Lands of the King's Thanes' in DS. Only the pre-Conquest holder of the manor, Godric, is named in the entry for Woolfardisworthy, but DS suggests that Colwyn, the reeve of Queen Edith, held the manor.

According to the church guide Holy Trinity was originally a chapelry of Hartland Abbey, and was granted to the Abbey by Hugh Peverell during the reign of Richard I.

Features

Exterior Features

Doorways

Furnishings

Comments/Opinions

The carving on the doorway is very close in style and execution to doorways at Buckland Brewer, Parkham and Shebbear. There are also similar doorways at Morwenstowe and Kilkhampton (Cornwall). A fragment of label, of exactly the same type as described above is reset into the porch at Molland, suggesting that a similar doorway may once have existed there.

Bibliography

C. and F. Thorn (eds) Domesday Book: Devon, Phillimore: Chichester, 1985, I, 52,1; 52,4; C2.

N. Pevsner and B. Cherry, The Buildings of England: Devon, 1952, revised 1989, 903-904.

T. J. Harding, Woolsery Church, A History and Guide, 1995.

http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk