The Shobdon estate in Herefordshire contains a fascinating white church, and arches from a previous church as a folly.
The estate at Shobdon, Herefordshire contains the Church of St John that is of 14th century origins, but was completely rebuilt between 1749-52 for John Bateman, 2nd Viscount Bateman. It is in a Rococo style supervised by Bateman's uncle, a close friend of Horace Walpole, and a member of his ‘Committee of Taste’. Simon Jenkins, in his book England's Thousand Best Churches, considers the interior "a complete masterpiece (of) English Rococo”. The exterior does not anticipate the "icing-sugar whiteness” of the interior, with Gothick, Rococo and even Chinoiserie flourishes." The church remains active, part of the Arrowvale Group. The exterior is of coursed rubble with a slate roof having a standard arrangement of nave, transepts and chancel with many Ogee arches for windows and door cases. The short tower contains a belfry. The style is clearly influenced by the contemporary Strawberry Hill House and the works of Batty Langley. Arches from the interior of this building were removed in the 18th century to form a eye-catcher in the grounds of Shobdon Court, that was the Bateman family home, though have weathered disastrously.
Size: 3723px × 5663px
Location: Shobdon, Herefordshire, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © Philip Chapman / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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