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Holbeton

from

Some Old Devon Churches

By J. Stabb

London: Simpkin et al (1908-16)

Page 120

Transcribed and edited by Dr Roger Peters

Full text available at

https://www.wissensdrang.com/dstabb.htm

Prepared by Michael Steer

Between 1908 and 1916, John Stabb, an ecclesiologist and photographer who lived in Torquay, published three volumes of Some Old Devon Churches and one of Devon Church Antiquities. A projected second volume of the latter, regarded by Stabb himself as a complement to the former, did not materialize because of his untimely death on August 2nd 1917, aged 52. Collectively, Stabb's four volumes present descriptions of 261 Devon churches and their antiquities.

HOLBETON. All Saints. The Perpendicular church is cruciform in shape and has a western tower with fine spire containing six bells.

The chancel portion of the rood screen is modern and is copied from the aisle screens; these are of remarkably rich design and were probably erected after the Reformation [ca. 1550], as they do not seem to have been intended to carry a loft, and Mr. E. D. Sedding, who designed the chancel portion, considered they were never intended to support a coving. He also thought that they were made by Flemish workmen, with some of the enrichments possibly of native workmanship [plate 120a].

The parclose screens are well in keeping with the main screen, and taken as a whole these screens take foremost rank among Devonshire screens.

There is some fine carving on the heads of the choir stalls and a Norman font. The rood staircase remains, but this can have had no connection with the present screen for the reasons given above.

The end of the north aisle was formerly a chantry chapel belonging to the estate of Fleet, or Fleet Damerell, in the parish. At the east end is a large monument [plate 120b] consisting of four stages, each with its row of effigies. There are kneeling figures of a man and woman on the top row, with their two sons and four daughters, the males kneeling behind their father, and the females behind their mother. Beneath there are the figures of another man and woman with five sons and three daughters; the central figure is that of a man arrayed in armour of 17th century date. There is a female figure at the head and another at the feet, and the figures of two men kneel in the row beneath him. On top of the monument are the arms of the Hele family; there is no inscription on the tomb, but it is probable that the effigies represent Thomas Hele of Exeter, Thomas Hele of Fleet (his son), and his son Sir Thomas Hele who was the first baronet of the family. There is the badge of a baronet in the arms which most probably applies to Sir Thomas, as he was the first baronet, but the style is earlier.

The registers date: baptisms, 1619; marriages, 1620; burials, 1619.