Chapel of Royal Hospital School Holbrook, England

Text courtesy of Historic England. © Crown Copyright, reprinted under the Open Government License.

TM 13 NE HOLBROOK STUTTON ROAD

2/38 Chapel of the Royal Hospital School

GV II*

School chapel. Circa 1925-33. Buckland and Heywood. Red brick, stone dressings. Roofs of interlocking Mediterranean type red tiles, hipped to east of nave, apse to chancel, hipped to north and south of west entrance portico, flat roofs to single storey north and south vestries. A large, tall building with angled walls to eastern apse, this with no windows apart from segmental-headed basement lights. The single storey, parapeted north and south vestries flank the apse and east walls of nave, steps approach doorwlays with square heads in their eastern walls and there are single lights to their north and south walls respectively. North and south walls of nave are similar with parapets, moulded stone cornices and bands below; moulded stone band below upper windows. Rusticated brick quoins and banded brick- work below the lower stone band. The upper windows are of 3 bays of stone graduated round-headed tripartite lights, leaded and with tracery. Below are 6 stone circular lights with carved bayleaf and ribbon decoration and each with a different insignia. Central stone surrounds to north and south doorways. The west entrance face with central full-height portico, step approach to stone doorway, moulded capitals and bases to pilasters, moulded cornice, double doors geometrically panelled. Tall round-headed alcove above the doorway with the carved figure of a bishop. Dentilled and moulded triangular pediment above parapet. A tall dome with moulded angle columns surmounts the portico. Interior: West porch, panelled ashlar walls, curved angles to walls and doorways. 2 marble stoups with round heads and semi-circular basins to east wall. Patterned tiled floor. Plain ceiling with contemporary flat rectangular light held in place by screws with moulded heads. Double doors, the lower halves panelled the upper halves glazed with curved tracery lead into the north and south side porches. These each with green marble stairs and wreathed handrails which ascend to the gallery. Similar doors lead from each side porch into the nave below the gallery. The gallery, of wood, has a forward central bay with concave sides, is diagonally boarded with moulded cornice, it is supported by ribbed columns with moulded bases and foliate capitals. The rear wall of panelled slats with geometrically patterned bands. The font is placed centrally below the gallery, octagonal bowl with rim, bulbous stem, moulded base. Nave roof of three tall domed bays (of concrete) supported by wide rectangular columns attached to the north and south walls from which spring round-headed crossing and side arches. Low round-headed arches through each column form aisle walkways from east to west. The chancel arch and dome are similar but narrower. A flight of steps approach the ornate baldachino and a second flight approaches the high altar under the panelled marble and mosaic apse. Below each chancel window is a recessed round-headed arch, each with a mosaic, the westernmost arches to north and south walls with double doors similar to inner porch doors leading into the vestries. Each bay of the north and south walls of the nave have 3 graduated recessed arches encompassing the upper and lower windows and doors, these lower features set within 3 lower round-headed arches. All windows with tracery, leading and coloured glass. Walls and ceilings painted white. Floors of patterned tiles, those to chancel and sanctuary of marble. Coloured marble and mosaic panelling to apse walls with frieze over, above the frieze are 4 mosaics of the Life of Christ, the dome mosaic depict- ing the Adoration of Christ. Reredos panel of Virgin and Child. Matching marble high altar. The marble panelling continues through the recessed arches of the chancel walls. The pedimented and vaulted baldachino is brightly painted, the 4 octagonal angle columns with moulded bases, carved angles and carved c