Woodhey Chapel, Faddiley
Encyclopedia
Woodhey Chapel is a Grade I listed private chapel off Woodhey Lane near Faddiley
, Cheshire
, England. The listing describes the building as 'A handsome and intact example of a chapel from a period when few were built'. The chapel, which is now disused, stands in fields near the site of the demolished Woodhey Hall. Its west end is connected to buildings of the former hall by a causeway which is raised by about 5 feet (2 m).
roof. It was built against an early 17th-century stone loggia
which forms its west face. The loggia provided an entrance for the Wilbraham family to the west gallery of the chapel. It consists of an arcade of three segmental archivolt
s supported by Doric
columns. Above these is a strapwork
decorated frieze
and an overhanging moulded cornice
. On each side are steps leading from the causeway to ground level. Richards describes the loggia as "perhaps the most original example in the whole of Cheshire".
The north elevation of the body of the chapel has a door which gave tenants access to the ground floor of the chapel. Above this is a circular window. To the east are three round-headed windows. The south elevation is similar with a dummy
door. On the east elevation are two similar windows between which is an ornate framework of stone which contains a weathered lozenge and tablet.
is in three bays
with oak panelling and a single-bay gallery. At the east end between the windows is a pediment
ed reredos
inscribed with the Ten Commandments
in gold. Below this is a panelled oak pulpit
carved with fruit and leaf motifs and a moulded
cornice
. The floor of the chancel is paved with tessellated
squares of black and white marble
while the rest of the floor is tiled. The gallery was heated by two fireplaces at the corners of the walls. In the gallery are pews on each side of the doorway. At the front of the gallery the oak screen has grilles of split cane. The ceiling of the chapel is plastered and formed into thirty panels by slender timber mouldings.
. It is listed Grade II. The chapel is located in a walled enclosure which was formerly a garden. The walls date from the early 17th century and are built from red brick with a stone dressing. They are also Grade II listed.
. It is Grade II* listed.
Faddiley
Faddiley is a small village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The village is located 4 miles to the west of Nantwich. The parish also includes the small settlements of Larden Green and Woodhey or Woodhey Green, with a total...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England. The listing describes the building as 'A handsome and intact example of a chapel from a period when few were built'. The chapel, which is now disused, stands in fields near the site of the demolished Woodhey Hall. Its west end is connected to buildings of the former hall by a causeway which is raised by about 5 feet (2 m).
History
In a will dated 1537 is a possible reference to a domestic chapel at Woodhey. The present chapel dates from about 1700 and was built by Lady Wilbraham, the widow of the Thomas Wilbraham, the last baronet of Woodhey. The chapel was restored in 1926.Exterior
The chapel is constructed in red brick with stone trimmings and has a slateSlate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
roof. It was built against an early 17th-century stone loggia
Loggia
Loggia is the name given to an architectural feature, originally of Minoan design. They are often a gallery or corridor at ground level, sometimes higher, on the facade of a building and open to the air on one side, where it is supported by columns or pierced openings in the wall...
which forms its west face. The loggia provided an entrance for the Wilbraham family to the west gallery of the chapel. It consists of an arcade of three segmental archivolt
Archivolt
An archivolt is an ornamental molding or band following the curve on the underside of an arch. It is composed of bands of ornamental moldings surrounding an arched opening, corresponding to the architrave in the case of a rectangular opening...
s supported by Doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
columns. Above these is a strapwork
Strapwork
In the history of art and design, the term strapwork refers to a stylised representation in ornament of strips or bands of curling leather, parchment or metal cut into elaborate shapes, with piercings and often interwoven...
decorated frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
and an overhanging moulded cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
. On each side are steps leading from the causeway to ground level. Richards describes the loggia as "perhaps the most original example in the whole of Cheshire".
The north elevation of the body of the chapel has a door which gave tenants access to the ground floor of the chapel. Above this is a circular window. To the east are three round-headed windows. The south elevation is similar with a dummy
Fake
Fake means not real.Fake may also refer to:In music:* Fake , a Swedish synthpop band active in the 1980s*Fake?, a Japanese rock band* Fake , 2010 song by Ai featuring Namie Amuro...
door. On the east elevation are two similar windows between which is an ornate framework of stone which contains a weathered lozenge and tablet.
Interior
The naveNave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
is in three bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
with oak panelling and a single-bay gallery. At the east end between the windows is a pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
ed reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
inscribed with the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
in gold. Below this is a panelled oak pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
carved with fruit and leaf motifs and a moulded
Molding (decorative)
Molding or moulding is a strip of material with various profiles used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration. It is traditionally made from solid milled wood or plaster but may be made from plastic or reformed wood...
cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
. The floor of the chancel is paved with tessellated
Tessellation
A tessellation or tiling of the plane is a pattern of plane figures that fills the plane with no overlaps and no gaps. One may also speak of tessellations of parts of the plane or of other surfaces. Generalizations to higher dimensions are also possible. Tessellations frequently appeared in the art...
squares of black and white marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
while the rest of the floor is tiled. The gallery was heated by two fireplaces at the corners of the walls. In the gallery are pews on each side of the doorway. At the front of the gallery the oak screen has grilles of split cane. The ceiling of the chapel is plastered and formed into thirty panels by slender timber mouldings.
External features
The retaining wall of the causeway leading to the west end of the chapel dates from the early 18th century and is composed of coursed red sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
. It is listed Grade II. The chapel is located in a walled enclosure which was formerly a garden. The walls date from the early 17th century and are built from red brick with a stone dressing. They are also Grade II listed.
Woodhey Cross
Around 500 m to the east of the chapel at a junction on Woodhey Lane is a late medieval red sandstone cross known as Woodhey CrossWoodhey Cross
Woodhey Cross is a late medieval stone cross, probably dating from the early 16th century, located near Faddiley in Cheshire, England. The structure is grade II* listed and is also a scheduled ancient monument...
. It is Grade II* listed.