2048

 

II  

Designated  

19/08/1955  

08/09/2000  

Church of St Deiniol  

 

Monmouthshire  

Devauden  

Chepstow  

Itton  

349312  

195293  

 

About 500m south of the Devauden to Chepstow Road (Itton Road, B4293).  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

 

The earliest datable features are the chancel and tower arches both of which appear to be c1300, but it seems likely that the nave and chancel were not built together. Both have been very much rebuilt and refaced in the restoration of 1869, which was done by Henry Woodyer. The different nature of the tower stonework may suggest an early beginning, or it may possibly be C15, the top was rebuilt in the C18 after a lightning strike. The porch is probably C16. All the main windows, the roof structures of the nave and chancel, and the vestry are Victorian, probably 1869, a date recorded in the south window of the chancel. The parish of Itton was combined with those of Devauden, Kilgwrrwg and St Arvans which included Penterry in 1981.  

The church is mainly constructed of rubblework in fine-grained limestone with some coarse sandstone, except for most of the tower which is built of squared blocks of grey sandstone, laid in courses and approximating to ashlar, the south wall of the porch is similar. The dressings are sandstone except for the Victorian work which is Bath stone. The plan is nave, an off line chancel, a west tower, a north porch and a vestry built against the north side of the chancel. The nave is of two bays with two 2-light plate tracery windows on the north and south walls, the lights have trefoil heads with roundel above. Diagonal corner buttresses, coped gable with apex cross. The chancel has a similar 3-light window on the south wall and a plain 2-light one on the north wall, with a projecting vestry continuing the roof line. 3-light east window of a similar type with a small lancet in the gable above, coped gable with cross. The tower is clearly of two builds, see History above. Battered base without features except for a Y-tracery window on the ground floor, this is a Victorian insertion, there may previously have been a door. Upper stage with small belfry openings on three sides, string course and castellated parapet. Octagonal stair-turret on north east corner rising above the parapet and with its own castellations. The churchyard has a good collection of monuments of the C18 and C19 of which seven are listed separately (qv).  

The base of the tower is separated from the nave by an open oak screen. The chancel arch, with its flanking arches, and the tower arch are of c1300. The nave roof is Victorian with elaborate crown post trusses with curved queen struts. The chancel roof has hammer beams and arch-braced collars supporting king-posts. All Victorian furnishings, reredos, pews, organ, except for the partly C18 font. Large collection of monuments, mainly to the Curre family, early C18 to mid C20, most other earlier ones were removed in 1869. The principal monuments are those of Sir Edward Curre (1855-1930) and his wife Lady Curre (1866-1956). There is said to be a single bell of 1702 in a C17 oak bell-frame.  

Included as a medieval church largely rebuilt by the Curre family in 1869 when the restoration was done by Henry Woodyer.