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| HER Number: | MDV135556 |
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| Name: | Wulphere Church, Dunkeswell |
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Summary
Site of a church founded by King Aethelbald of Mercia in AD743. It became part of the Dunkeswell Abbey estate in the medieval period. Following the dissolution of the monasteries it fell into disrepair. A new chapel was built in the 19th century which incorporated part of the medieval chapel.
Location
| Grid Reference: | ST 137 052 |
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| Map Sheet: | ST10NW |
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| Admin Area | Devon |
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| Civil Parish | Dunkeswell |
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| District | East Devon |
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| Ecclesiastical Parish | DUNKESWELL |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses: none recorded
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- CHURCH (Built, VIII - 743 AD to 743 AD)
Full description
Mitchell, N., 1995, The medieval floor-tiles from Wolford Chapel, near Dunkeswell, East Devon (Un-published). SDV366393.
Wolford Chapel was founded by King Aethelbald of Mercia in 743, one of several founded at the southern limits of his advance. They were each dedicated to a person of great piety known to the king and so Wolford was dedicated to St Wulfere, King of Mercia AD657-675 and the first to embrace Christianity.
The only medieval reference is in 1202 when William, Lord Brewer donated his lands in Dunkeswell and ‘Wulferchurch’ for the founding of Dunkeswell Abbey. The church remained as part of the Dunkeswell estate until the dissolution in 1539. It was in a ruinous state when rebuilt in 1800-1802 by Lt-General Simcoe. The rebuilt chapel incorporated part of the earlier chapel.
Fragments of medieval tile in the chapel, which were removed for preservation and study in 1990, are thought to have come from Dunkeswell Abbey. It is suggested that they are part of the Dunkeswell Abbey assemblage that was uncovered in 1841 and retained for the refurbishment of Wolford Chapel in the 19th century. It is intended that the tiles will be reset in the chapel.
Ordnance Survey, 2025, Mastermap 2025 (Cartographic). SDV366286.
Wolford Chapel is marked as the site of Wulphere Church.
Sources / Further Reading
| SDV366286 | Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2025. Mastermap 2025. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. |
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| SDV366393 | Un-published: Mitchell, N.. 1995. The medieval floor-tiles from Wolford Chapel, near Dunkeswell, East Devon. A4 Comb Bound. |
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Associated Monuments
| MDV1890 | Related to: Dunkeswell Abbey (Monument) |
| MDV11497 | Related to: Wolford Chapel, Dunkeswell (Building) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events: none recorded
| Date Last Edited: | Feb 25 2025 4:12PM |
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