St Michael's Church, Gittisham, Devon

 

Having visited the area in February 2016 with three friends on a trip out to see a special place full of snowdrops (coming up next), we stopped in the village afterwards to have a look around the church.

It's unknown when the earlier church was built but there are references to parsons in the records as early as 1244. This one was either wholly built or partly rebuilt in 1321.

Constructed with flint rubble, the central front of the church and halfway up the tower has been rendered, which I personally think doesn't do it any favours. However, it is a Grade I Listed Building and the interior is rather unusual and was quite a surprise.

I didn't have much time to take any close-up photos outside or wander all the way around. I just managed a few quick photos of the north side with its central porch and door, to the left of which is the priest's door next to a 2-light arched window (above) and the tower to the right.

I've mentioned before that if an entrance is on the north side it used to be known as the Devil's Door. We have a lot in East Devon! ;)

The lych-gate, above, was used not only as an entrance but also as a shelter and place to rest a coffin and begin the first part of the funeral service before taking it into the church. This one was erected after World War II and is also the war memorial for the village.

Delightfully and surprisingly the inside is fitted with box pews, which were added in the 18th century. Most English churches have had theirs taken out and it's very unusual to find any remaining; this is the first time I've ever come across any.

 

I'm only 5' 2 (and a half)" tall and the box pews are almost as tall as me! 

The pulpit is 19th century or early 20th century, and is a wooden drum style. I didn't manage to take a photo of it but you can just about see some of it in the above photo on the far left with its traceried panels.

With plastered walls and stone arches - including a 4-bay arcade - the wagon roofs look quite striking with their moulded ribs and carved bosses at the intersections. Some of the lovely foliage carvings on the pier capitals can be seen below.

I took more photos of the south aisle than anywhere else because of its interesting components and atmosphere.  

Looking in from the chancel, below. The choir stalls have poppyhead carvings on the ends. Nothing to do with the flower, it represents the figurehead of a ship, called the poop. In this case it has the simplest style in the form of a fleur-de-lys.

I love the way this close-up of one of the carvings came out, below. It always reminds me of M R James' story The Stalls Of Barchester Cathedral, which was the first ever BBC dramatisation of a Christmas Eve ghost story in 1971.  

The view from the western end, below. The flagstones bear memorial inscriptions on part of the floor.

The organ is on the right side in the above photos. The organ pipes, below, with their fabulous decoration of pale blue and gold. I've seen something similar on the pipes of the Methodist church in Sidmouth in blue and gold, but much plainer without the patterning.

One of the monuments on the wall of the south chancel, below, containing statues of Henry Beaumont of Combe and his wife kneeling at prayer desks. I've mentioned before that monuments aren't usually on my radar but this one was interesting and reminds me of one similar in St Michael's church in Musbury where statues of the Drake family kneel. 

Elsewhere in the church are some other interesting items, such as the circa 19th century tiled floor in the chancel, below.

The 15th century octagonal font is an absolute delight with its carved quartrefoils on the bowl.

I didn't manage to take photos of many windows, but there's a small selection below.

The ones in the south aisle have plain diamond leaded lights made with cathedral glass. The glass is slightly blurred to enable the light to come through but which helps to stop any window gazing.

And just two stained glass windows. I don't recall where they were situated, but this first one was gorgeous with its pretty orange flower on blue.

And outside again, showing two of the gravestones amongst the trees...

...and one in which the lovely thatched cottages can be glimpsed in the background.

And there we have it! Just a short one but I really didn't have time to take enough photos to do it justice. I'm glad I got around to adding the article though.

After our visit here we stopped on the way home to have lunch in the Hare and Hounds pub - ladies who lunch, lol - where I also took photos of the Farway standing stone (which you can read about here). Altogether a great chance to see some places I wouldn't normally be able to get to and enjoy a morning out with friends. :)

Snowdrops coming up shortly! :)

Timber Clad Building, Seaton, Devon

 

In between two of the small shops that line the centre of the town is this short lane, at the end of which can be seen this attractive timber clad building.

I love timber hung buildings, especially as they are fairly rare in East Devon, so I took a photo of it some years ago. Then, needing to finish a film in my camera recently I decided to use it up on this. Sadly, it's weathered quite a bit and the lovely pale blue paintwork has greyed somewhat, but it's still very charming with its strata of cladding, plaster and stonework.

There was a sign with Underfleet Mews on attached to the building, which had since disappeared by the time I took the photos. The other side overlooks the Underfleet, which makes sense, although I'm not sure if the sign was for the lane or the building. Mind, it doesn't really make a difference as the building is the only residence there. Otherwise, I've no idea when it was built or anything else about it at all but I wanted to include it just because I really like it.

Purpose built into individual flats rather than converted from a single house, there are balconies and private outdoor spaces for the ground floor dwellings. I originally called it a clapboard house but on checking out the difference between the term clapboard and shiplap, I discovered this to be shiplap. The difference is that the clapboard boards are thicker on the base edge, enabling water to run off to keep the lower ones drier - rather like a clinker-built boat - whereas shiplap boards fit together neatly with a smooth surface.

There's some timber cladding on the rear of the next door shop too and the building looks amazingly higgledy-piggledy with its layers of extensions, including some tile cladding on the second gable along.

In fact the whole of the street shop rears have that fabulous haphazard look about them.

As I often do - and just when I'm writing the article - I realise what other photos I could've taken whilst there, including some close-ups of the cladding and stonework, etc. However, I did manage to take a random photo of the residents car park, below. Just because! 

And finishing off with the two below; one taken from across the main shoppers car park and the other from the road below.

Just a short one for now. I'm working on two more which are taking somewhat longer...although that could be me rather than the actual length of the articles! So I thought I'd get this one done in the meantime and I've just managed to finish it before a late teatime. And it's Friday night so there'll be a sci-fi film later with a glass or three of wine, lol.

Have a lovely weekend everyone. Cheers. :)