13. CHAPEL. (B.c.)
(O.S. 6 in. (a)xvii. S.E. (b)xxvi. N.E.)
Chapel is a small parish and village on the River
Colne, 5½ m. E.S.E. of Halstead.
Ecclesiastical
b(1). Parish Church (dedication unknown)
stands at the N. end of the parish. The walls are
of flint-rubble, covered with cement and the
dressings are of clunch; the roofs are tiled. The
church was consecrated in 1352 as a chapel-ofease to Great Tey and the Chancel and Nave
are probably of this date. The South Porch was
added probably in the 18th century. The building
was restored in the 19th century when the North
Vestry was added and the bell-turret added or
rebuilt.
The Church, Plan
Architectural Description — The Chancel and
Nave (53½ ft. by 18½ ft.) are structurally undivided. The mid 14th-century E. window is
of two pointed lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head; on either side of it is a modern
window. The N. wall has two modern windows
and E. of them a modern doorway. In the S.
wall are three windows, the easternmost is modern,
the second is of the 15th century and of two cinquefoiled lights in a square head; the westernmost
window is of mid 14th-century date and of two
trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred
head; the jambs and mullion are moulded;
further W. is the N. doorway with a wooden
frame and square head, probably of the 17th
century. In the W. wall is a late 15th-century
window of three cinquefoiled lights in a three-centred head with a moulded label and three
modern windows.
Fittings—Door: In S. doorway—of oak battens
with strap-hinges, 17th-century. Piscina: In
chancel—with two-centred head and octofoiled
drain, 14th-century. Plate: includes pewter
flagon and plate, early 18th-century. Pulpit:
semi-octagonal with panelled sides, upper panels
fluted, carved and shaped brackets to book-rest,
mid 17th-century. Reading-desk: with two
arcaded panels carved with foliage and carved
and shaped brackets to book-rest, mid 17th-century.
Condition—Good, but much ivy on S. wall.
Secular
Monuments (2–6).
The following monuments, unless otherwise
described, are of the 17th century and of two
storeys, timber-framed and plastered; the roofs
are tiled. Some of the buildings have original
chimney-stacks and exposed ceiling-beams.
Condition—Good, or fairly good.
a(2). Swan Inn, 130 yards N.E. of the church,
has later and modern extensions at the back.
b(3). House, 50 yards E. of the church.
b(4). Hillhouse Farm, house, ¼ m. S. of the
church.
b(5). Brook Hall, 120 yards S. of (4), was built
probably in the 16th century with cross-wings at
the E. and W. ends. The front has been faced
with modern brick.
b(6). Pope's Farm, house, ¼ m. S.E. of (5), was
built probably in the 15th century with crosswings at the N. and S. ends. There are two 17th-century additions on the W. side. Inside the
building the main block and one cross-wing
have original king-post trusses.
Clacton, see Great Clacton and Little
Clacton.
Coggeshall, see Great Coggeshall and
Little Coggeshall.