St Chad's Church, Hanmer

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Listed grade II* as a substantial parish church and a commanding presence in the village, retaining much high-quality late medieval and C18 fabric, and well restored in the late C19. History: Hanmer church is first mentioned in 1110. The present church was begun c1490, after damage by fire in 1463. Its rebuilding saw the creation of a substantial parish church with W tower, but retaining a comparatively humble timber-framed chancel. This was replaced in stone in 1720 (date on building). The chancel was restored in 1884, when original iron gates were removed and placed at a new S entrance to the churchyard. The church was badly damaged by fire in 1889. Restoration by Bodley and Garner, architects of London, including new arcades and roofs, was completed in 1892. This was closely modelled on what was known of the earlier building but was not an exact copy. In 1833 Samuel Lewis noted that the panelled N aisle roof had flower and foliage enrichment, probably referring to the bosses, and that the S aisle was similar, but the restored roofs are simpler in their decoration. The chancel remained disused and roofless until restoration in 1935-6 by W.D. Caroe, architect. Exterior: A late Perpendicular style parish church comprising an aisled nave with W tower, S porch and lower, narrower chancel, of ashlar under shallow-pitched graded stone-tile roofs. Medieval and C18 fabric is generally grey sandstone, with red sandstone used in the 1889-92 restoration. The 4-bay S aisle is buttressed, with diagonal buttresses to the angles. It is embattled, retaining the bases of intended or former pinnacles, with well-preserved grotesques at eaves level. Three lead rainwater heads have survived. Two bear the initials EB and TS . The third has IH and another monogram ob

From Cadw under OGL v3.