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Summary

Chapel built as a museum in the late 18th or early 19th century. Built of rubble stone and dark volcanic rubble with a porch with round-headed entrance and a three-light decorative window above with large pieces of decorative slag each side and above it.

Location

Protected Status

• Registered Park or Garden (II) 1000688: BRIDWELL

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST01SE/35
• Old Listed Building Ref (II*)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CHAPEL (Built, XVIII to XIX - 1792 AD (Between) to 1809 AD (Between))

Full description

Beacham, P. + Timms, S., 1981, Bridwell (Site Visit). SDV43532.

Site visit 18th August 1981. This single-storey building, which runs east-west and has a gallery and entrance at the east end, may be the chapel mentioned by Cornforth. The interior has been recently gutted and floor and panelling removed. However its arch braced roof survives. This roof was reported by B. Cherry in April 1981 and is thought to be a reused medieval roof. There is some suggestion that this building has been used as a museum for objects brought back by Captain Cook and other such material but nothing remains in the building now. It is in rather poor condition.

Timms, S., 1981, Bridwell House (Worksheet). SDV365848.

Reports of a building said to have a fine, re-used medieval roof which was used as a museum to house objects brought back from Captain Cook's expeditions. These objects may have ben disposed of recently.

Cornforth, J., 1981, Bridwell, Devon, 712 (Article in Serial). SDV56948.

The chapel built by R. H. Clarke of Bridwell was opened in 1792.

Department of Environment, 1986, Halberton, 98 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV43576.

Chapel 110m north-east of Bridwell Park. Now derelict, formerly serving Bridwell Park. Single cell structure of 3-window bays, with porch. Roof appears to be medieval. See DoE list for full details.

Allan, J., 2019, Polynesian artefacts in Georgian Devon, 16; Fig 9 (Article in Serial). SDV366278.

An early private museum, constructed by Richard Hall Clarke in 1809 and displaying a fine arch-braced late medieval roof which is said to have come from Plymouth. This must be the earliest known museum in Devon.

Reed, S., 2020, Monument and chapel at Bridwell House (Ground Photograph). SDV363977.

Photos of the exterior of the chapel showing the large decorative pieces of iron slag around the window above the entrance.

Historic England, 2020, National Heritage List for England, 1000688 (National Heritage List for England). SDV363414.

The chapel is included in the description of Bridwell Park.
The building, now (1999) a games and music room, is constructed from rubble stone and dark volcanic rubble, with a round-headed entrance to the west, and square-headed windows to the west and south.
See listing description for further information.

Historic England, 2020, National Heritage List for England, 1105882 (National Heritage List for England). SDV363414.

Chapel 110 metres north-east of Bridwell Park, now derelict, formerly serving Bridwell Park. 1792, the roof possibly C14 or C15 and brought from another building.
See listing description for full details.
Date first listed: 11th June 1986

Watts, S., 2021, Bridwell Park (Ground Photograph). SDV365845.

Exterior view of the Chapel.

Ordnance Survey, 2024, Mastermap 2024 (Cartographic). SDV365834.

Building shown.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV363414	National Heritage List for England: Historic England. 2020. National Heritage List for England. Digital. 1105882.
SDV363977	Ground Photograph: Reed, S.. 2020. Monument and chapel at Bridwell House. Digital.
	Linked images:3
SDV365834	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2024. Mastermap 2024. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #127618 ]
SDV365845	Ground Photograph: Watts, S.. 2021. Bridwell Park. Photograph (Digital).
	Linked images:4
SDV365848	Worksheet: Timms, S.. 1981. Bridwell House. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV366278	Article in Serial: Allan, J.. 2019. Polynesian artefacts in Georgian Devon. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 151. Paperback Volume. 16; Fig 9.
SDV43532	Site Visit: Beacham, P. + Timms, S.. 1981. Bridwell. Digital.
SDV43576	List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest: Department of Environment. 1986. Halberton. Historic Houses Register. A4 Spiral Bound. 98.
SDV56948	Article in Serial: Cornforth, J.. 1981. Bridwell, Devon. Country Life. Photocopy + Digital. 712.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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