Duiske Abbey Catholic Church — Abbey Street

Detached ten-bay double-height Catholic abbey, founded 1204-12, on a cruciform plan on a corner site comprising six-bay double-height nave with three-bay single-storey lean-to side aisles (originally six-bay single-storey) having single-bay single-storey gabled projecting porch to north, single-bay (two-bay deep) double-height transepts to north and to south, and three-bay double-height chancel to east having two-bay single-storey lean-to sacristy to south. Dissolved, 1536. In ruins, pre-1774-post-1810. Reconstructed 1812, to accommodate use as church. Restored, 1974-80. Pitched slate roofs on a cruciform plan (lean-to to side aisles behind parapet; gabled to porch; lean-to to sacristy) with clay ridge tiles, cut-limestone coping to gables having belfry to apex to west (comprising rusticated limestone ashlar base on a square plan with cast-iron clock faces, cut-limestone coping supporting cut-limestone piers forming tapered open stage with cast-iron bell, and moulded cornice having ogee-dome over with wrought iron weathervane on finial), and cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-limestone eaves. Random rubble stone walls (originally rendered with render removed, 1974-80) with sections of unpainted replacement roughcast walls, 1974-80, rubble stone buttress piers incorporating cut-stone quoins having cut-limestone coping, some full-height square-headed recesses to nave having corbel tables, and reconstructed rubble stone parapets to side aisles on stringcourses having square apertures. Round-headed window openings to nave (some paired) and to side aisles with cut-stone surrounds having chamfered reveals, and fixed-pane fittings. Pointed-arch window openings to remainder (grouped in three-part arrangement to west; paired to transept to north having rose window over to gable; in tripartite arrangement to transept to south having paired pointed-arch window openings over to gable; paired to chancel having rose window over to gable) with cut-stone surrounds having chamfered reveals (moulded reveals to rose windows), hood mouldings over, some having mullions forming bipartite lancet arrangement, and fixed-pane fittings having some leaded stained glass panels. Series of three oculus window openings to chancel with cut-stone surrounds having chamfered reveals, and fixed-pane fittings. Pointed-arch door opening to porch with two cut-limestone flagged steps, carved cut-sandstone doorcase having colonette reveals, moulded archivolt supporting rubble stone voussoirs, and no fittings. Pointed-arch door opening to nave with cut-stone stepped (rebated) doorcase supporting rubble stone voussoirs, and replacement tongue-and-groove timber panelled door, 1980. Pointed-arch window openings to sacristy with cut-stone sills, rendered surrounds having chamfered reveals, and replacement timber casement windows, 1980. Pointed-arch door opening with replacement tongue-and-groove timber panelled door, 1980, having overlight. Full-height interior open into roof remodelled, 1974-80, with painted exposed random rubble stone walls, pointed-arch arcade to side aisles on rubble stone piers having cut-limestone dressings including moulded archivolts, cut-limestone stringcourse to clere-storey with carved cut-limestone surrounds to window openings, exposed timber roof construction on cut-stone corbels, and pointed-arch chancel arch having carved cut-limestone clustered colonette reveals supporting cut-limestone archivolt. Set in own grounds on a corner site with sections of iron railings to perimeter of site on random rubble stone plinth having cut-granite chamfered coping, cast-iron finials, pointed-arch pedestrian gateway having cut-granite piers, wrought iron gate with tracery overpanel, and carved (moulded) coping to gabled parapet having cross finial to apex.(ii) Graveyard to site with various cut-stone markers, pre-1536-present.(iii) Gateway, built 1812, to north comprising Tudor-headed carriageway with pair of cut-granite paired trefoil-headed panelled piers having friezes between stringcourses, moulded cornices supporting hood moulding, battlemented gabled parapet having cross finial to apex, iron double gates having tracery overpanel, pair of square-headed flanking pedestrian gateways with iron gates having hood mouldings over supporting battlemented parapets, and cut-granite paired round-headed panelled terminating piers with friezes between stringcourses supporting 'obelisk' pinnacles on profiled finials.