Heath Chapel

Heath Chapel was built in the middle of the 12th century. The roof of the nave was renewed in the 16th or 17th century. At about this time a flat plaster ceiling was added to the chancel, the walls were whitewashed, covering the medieval wall paintings, and texts were painted on the walls which were later also covered in whitewash. During the 17th century a communion rail was built on three sides of the altar, and pews were introduced in chancel and the nave. In 1870 the chapel was floored with flagstones. In 1912 the chancel ceiling was removed and a new roof built. At the same time some of the medieval wall paintings were exposed.

The chapel is Norman in style. It is constructed in grey siltstone rubble with yellowish sandstone ashlar dressings. It has a rectangular plan, and consists of a two-bay nave with a south doorway and a two-bay chancel. There is no bellcote. The chapel is supported by full-height buttresses, and there is a string course around it at mid-height. The windows are small. The doorway has two orders of shafts with decayed capitals. It is decorated with chevrons, but has a plain tympanum. Inside the chapel, the chancel arch has two orders of shafts and scalloped capitals. The tub-shaped font is Norman. There are five box pews and a two-decker pulpit, all dating from the 17th century. There is…