Nominal: 743.5 Hz Weight: 1680 lbs Diameter: 43.75" Bell 1 of 6
Founded by Abraham II Rudhall 1725
Dove Bell ID: 2763 Tower ID: 10214 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Gloucester: St Nicholas
Diocese of Gloucester
CCT Church
This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2025-11-06)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: SO 829 187
St. Nicholas is the oldest mediaeval church in Gloucester, and perhaps the most important ecclesiastical building in the city after the cathedral. Walls of stone, generally plastered internally, and roofs of Welsh slate on old timbers. The stone seems to be the same Cotswold oolite limestone as that of the cathedral.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower and spire, nave and chancel with wide south aisle and narrow north aisle, both aisles overlapping the choir. Two south porches, and an organ chamber and vestry at northeast corner.
Description of Archaeology and History
Norman: part of the south wall of the nave and part of the north arcade.
First half of 13th century: nave, part of the arcade, chancel, and south aisle rebuilt.
14th century: south porch and the present spaces for organ and vestry plus the windows inserted in the south wall of chancel and east end of south aisle.
15th century: east window, and south window of south aisle inserted. Also the great tower and spire.
1783: upper part of spire taken down and corona added.
1866: restoration by Jacques (?).
1925-6: Substantial repairs to tower and spire. 30 tons of concrete grouting pumped down to support the foundations.
1968: more repairs to tower at cost of £3,000. (A further £25,000 is said to be required to put the church in a good state of repair)
Exterior Description
Walls of stone, generally plastered internally, and roofs of Welsh slate on old timbers. The stone seems to be the same Cotswold oolite limestone as that of the cathedral.
The architectural importance of the tower cannot be sufficiently stressed. It is of three stages and embattled top (now taken down) with diagonal corner buttresses squared off on the top storey: a big four-light Perpendicular west window at ground stage, then two storeys with lofty openings under crocketed ogees supporting pilaster pinnacles as at Northleach. The blind tracery of the second storey opening is, in a most unusual manner, completed by the tear-drop motive of the Royal Masons. The upper storey uses panelling across wall and void as one would expect in imitation of the cathedral, but of great significance is the fact that the details are not characteristic of the cathedral. On top of all this is the truncated spire with corona and weather-cock of 1783, truncated because the top was out of true (deformation of remainder 3'9" in 1926). Nonetheless the existence of thie Perpendicular spire is of supreme importance, since the other great Perpendicular towers in the area, like Cirencester and Northleach were designed for them but do not have spires today. In any case, Perpendicular spires are common nowhere in England, and certainly no tower as large as this carries one.
The rest of the exterior is not of the same degree of architectural interest as the tower. But there is a Norman tympanum of the Agnus Dei over the south door to the nave.
Building Fabric and Features
Weather Vane
1783
Located on tower
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is a combination of different styles. The choir is short but wide, with a large five-light transomed Perpendicular east window. To the north and south are most uncommon quadruple hagioscopes from the aisles to the high altar. There is no chancel arch in stone. The south aisle has a lofty four-light Decorated window to the east within a moulded Early English arch, having-slender bonded shafts and moulded caps. A range of five Perpendicular south windows are all set in Early English embrasures with moulded round arches and jamb-shafts, except for the two at the west end with modern tracery.
The south nave arcade has three Early English bays with cylindrical pillars and chamfered arches of two orders, some stiff-leaf ornament. The three east bays of the north arcade have windblown stiff-leaf on the capitals. To the west of these are three Norman pillars with plain caps and round-headed arches. High tower arch and lierne vault inside. High up in the roof to the north and south are two - light clerestory windows. The narrower north aisle has all threelight Perpendicular windows, but the last bay to the west has square- headed windows. The roofs inside are covered by plastered ceilings but the main supports are seen as king-post type with tie-beams. Only panelling in chancel.
Fixtures and fittings
Bell Frame
1680
Maker
Pickford
Date
1680
Visit
Description
OFJ
1
Jurisdiction
Churches Conservation Trust
Number of Bells
Material
Font (object)
Stone, plain octagonal shape, presumably Perpendicular
Organ (object)
Two-manual, of first-rate historical importance, in a very fine case of c.1800 or earlier.
Pulpit
19th Century
Lectern
19th Century
Brass
Bells
Nominal: 1244.5 Hz Weight: 448 lbs Diameter: 27.5" Bell 2 of 6
Founded by John Baker 1608
Dove Bell ID: 21936 Tower ID: 10214 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1116 Hz Weight: 616 lbs Diameter: 31.25" Bell 3 of 6
Founded by Roger I Purdue 1636
Dove Bell ID: 21937 Tower ID: 10214 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1007 Hz Weight: 784 lbs Diameter: 33.75" Bell 4 of 6
Founded by Roger I Purdue 1636
Dove Bell ID: 21938 Tower ID: 10214 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Nominal: 936.5 Hz Weight: 1059 lbs Diameter: 36.5" Bell 5 of 6
Founded by Robert Hendley
Dove Bell ID: 21939 Tower ID: 10214 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Nominal: 831 Hz Weight: 1120 lbs Diameter: 38.5" Bell 6 of 6
Founded by Bristol foundry
Dove Bell ID: 21940 Tower ID: 10214 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 829 187
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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