Nominal: 738 Hz Weight: 1188 lbs Diameter: 40.25" Bell 1 of 8
Founded by Abraham I Rudhall 1694
Dove Bell ID: 3231 Tower ID: 11616 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Hempsted: St Swithun
Overview
Grid reference: SO 813 170
St Swithun is listed at Grade II*. It was originally built in the C14, then rebuilt for the Prior of Llanthony (Henry Dene) between 1467 and 1477. Although the church was restored and refitted in 1837-9 by G.V. Maddox and in 1885-6 by F.S. Waller, it retains its C14-15 central tower and chancel and a C14 south porch, and work characteristic of the masons employed by Llanthony Priory. The church interior includes a large collection of historic memorials, a restored C15 timber roof and a late C12/early C13 font. The churchyard provides a highly attractive historic setting for the church and contains an extensive assortment of C17-C19 memorials, including four Grade II listed chest tombs.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 262 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The church and churchyard have high archaeological potential because of the likelihood of the presence of an earlier church on the site. The complexity of the church fabric is also of archaeological interest. The Gloucester Urban Archaeological Database records two finds of a Roman glass vessel fragment and a C3-C4 pottery rim sherd in the churchyard to the north of the church.
Phase 1: C14.
Phase 2: C15 - church partly rebuilt 1467-77 for Prior Henry Dene. Upper stages of tower, and windows and roof of nave date from this period.
Phase 3: 1837-9 - church restored and refitted by G.V. Maddox of Monmouth. He added a vestry room on the N side of the nave and a W gallery with external entrance. Church re-pewed and nave reroofed.
Phase 4: 1885-6: church restored and extended by F.S. Waller of Gloucester. Vestry replaced by a new one connected to the E end of the nave by a cloister, and gallery removed. Nave extended to W and its roof altered; new E window inserted and interior refitted.
Exterior Description
Mostly ashlar, slate roof with coped gables. Nave, originally of three bays, extended to the west; south porch; central tower inset within the west bay of the two-bay chancel; north vestry linked to the east end of the nave by a short C19 'cloister'.
The tower has clasping buttresses of the usual Gloucestershire type, and battlements enriched with paired trefoil-headed panels and large gargoyles.
Interior
Interior Description
Inside, the tower has double-chamfered arches, the bulging form of the east arch responds characteristic of work associated with Llanthony Priory, constructed projecting over the supporting piers as the arch is narrower than the chancel.
The church interior includes a large collection of historic memorials, a restored C15 timber roof and a late C12/early C13 font.
Bells
Nominal: 1477 Hz Weight: 384 lbs Diameter: 25" Bell 2 of 8
Founded by Whitechapel Bell Foundry 1979
Dove Bell ID: 24334 Tower ID: 11616 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1395 Hz Weight: 408 lbs Diameter: 25.88" Bell 3 of 8
Founded by Whitechapel Bell Foundry 1979
Dove Bell ID: 24335 Tower ID: 11616 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1245 Hz Weight: 484 lbs Diameter: 27.63" Bell 4 of 8
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1885
Dove Bell ID: 24336 Tower ID: 11616 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1106 Hz Weight: 516 lbs Diameter: 29.5" Bell 5 of 8
Founded by Thomas Rudhall 1764
Dove Bell ID: 24337 Tower ID: 11616 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 988 Hz Weight: 644 lbs Diameter: 32.25" Bell 6 of 8
Founded by Abraham I Rudhall 1694
Dove Bell ID: 24338 Tower ID: 11616 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 931.5 Hz Weight: 708 lbs Diameter: 33.25" Bell 7 of 8
Founded by John Rudhall 1817
Dove Bell ID: 24339 Tower ID: 11616 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 828.5 Hz Weight: 905 lbs Diameter: 37" Bell 8 of 8
Founded by John Rudhall 1817
Dove Bell ID: 24340 Tower ID: 11616 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 813 170
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
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 | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
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
Sources
Showing 7 entries of 7 View All
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.