Survey Data
Reg No
22205305
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Church/chapel
Date
1855 - 1860
Coordinates
207141, 146712
Date Recorded
24/05/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached square-plan single-bay double-height mortuary chapel, erected 1857, with four-stage tower to north-west and with apse to west, altar, end. Pitched slate roof to chapel, hipped slate roof to tower, spired slate roof to apse. Cut sandstone copings and eaves course, and carved sandstone cross finial to chapel, cast-iron rainwater goods and cast-iron cross finial to tower. Snecked dressed limestone walls with cut sandstone quoins and cut sandstone string courses, carved limestone date plaque with cut sandstone surrounds to openings. Round-headed window openings with leaded glazing to first floor front and apse of chapel, tripled and having carved sandstone imposts and keystones to front elevation. Round-headed single- and two-light windows to tower, with louvred timber fittings. Square-headed window opening to lower level of chapel with timber casement window. Round-headed door openings to chapel and tower having timber battened doors. Interior has ornate cast-iron gallery to north side, with opening to tower, above sculpted marble Celtic cross set into wall, and with sculpted marble memorial bas-relief to south wall. Cut limestone wall with sandstone coping to site boundary, render stations of the cross to south boundary, steel gates to entrance.
Appraisal
Commissioned and designed by Charles Bianconi on the death of his daughter, the Italianate style of this memorial chapel is appropriate to his nationality. The triple window is like that on the Market House in Cashel. The chapel's form is simple yet architecturally effective, enhanced and emphasised by the sandstone quoins and string courses. Artistic interest is added by the bas-reliefs to the interior, carved in Italy by Benzoni. It forms an interesting group with the outdoor stations of the cross in its grounds, and the church and grotto to the north.