The chapel, dedicated to St Nicholas was originally the parish church of Nether Haddon. The chapel has been extended over the years and contains some of the earliest masonry in the fabric of the hall.*
The walls in the chapel display some fine fresco seccoes which would have originally have been brightly coloured. It is thought that the fresco seccoes were commissioned in the early 15th century. The paintings were whitewashed over during the reformation and there is some evidence of deliberate defacement. As part of early 20th century restoration work the 9th Duke of Rutland arranged for the paintings to be uncovered and restored.*
*From the Haddon Hall guide book
The prison cell-like quire is indeed very unusual!
What we see is boxed pews reserved for family members.
Really?! Still very unusual layout for pews though?!
I mean do they face the altar or do they face each other?
I don’t have any of my own photos to show (I need to go back
) but the church at Whitby where my male family line originated has similar box pews.
https://justbod.blogspot.com/2014/10/st-marys-church-whitby.html
On a holiday when I was researching my family history, visiting churches and burial grounds (for inscriptions on the tombstones) I was fascinated to see boxed pews in Whitby church, it was something I had not seen before.
The advantage of dry secco fresco is that there is no need for the exhausting preparation of the wall with wet plaster. Instead the finished walls are soaked with limewater and painted while wet. The disadvantage is that the matte finish can be easily defaced. So the 9th Duke of Rutland was a clever chap.
I think those that wanted to deface Christian art during the reformation would have found a way whatever the medium used to prepare the artwork.
That Chapel is very full of interest, Cherie. That little boat is a gem
That part of the artwork depicts St. Nicholas calming the storm.
That is some wonderful place to walk around and see all the fresco’s and all the details on the woodwork and the woodwork alone. What a place to be and I think you were there all by yourself (and Mark of course).
At the time I took the photos we were the only to people in the church. Another couple came just as we were about to leave.
I especially like the wall paintings.
The wall paintings are fascinating
There’s such detail in that woodwork!
Lovely craftsmanship
There looks so much of interest to see in the chapel especially the wall paintings which look superb.
It is a very interesting church.
great presentation Cherie…..peter:)
Thank you
i like the sculpture of the ship Cherie….peter:)
St Nicholas calming the storm.
Hall got an intensive look!
rare and yet appealing !
The main bit of the hall is built around two oak trees. The trunks of the trees are still part of the hall.