The Chapel of St Nicholas, Cholmondeley, Bickerton Rd, Malpas SY14 8AH
Details
Accessibility;
The public entrance/exit of the Chapel of St Nicholas is via the North Transept (wing) of the building. For those with limited mobility or wheelchair users, a private road within the Cholmondeley Castle Estate leads to the chapel's public entrance - see interactive map for route. . The entrance has 3-step access to the Chapel with an unenclosed handrail to the side of the steps. The chapel entrance is quite narrow but has double doors to provide increased width of access if required. Please take care as the entrance steps are uneven in height and step riser and tread depth and width. The public entrance doors lead into the chapel Nave. The chapel has also a public exit from the South Transept.
Within the Chapel, there is level access to the central Nave, East Chancel, North Transept (wing) and South Transept (wing) of the chapel. There maybe limited access to the Chapel’s pews for those with limited mobility owing to their narrow width with some enclosed box pews.
There is staircase access only ( 7 steps) within St Nicholas Chapel to the private Cholmondeley family pew at the West end of the chapel (caution: this has a gated, access door to the pew which opens outward towards the staircase). There also is staircase access only to the Pulpit and to the Reader desk located at the entrance to the East Chancel.
Brief description
St. Nicholas is a private chapel within the Estate of Cholmondeley Castle, the ancient, family seat of the Marquis of Cholmondeley. St. Nicholas is a Grade 1 listed building. Its exterior is a neo-Classical brick and stone-faced structure dating from 1717 which encased the earlier medieval Chancel. The North and South Transepts (wings) were added in 1829. The East Chancel includes a timber-beamed ceiling dating back to the 13th century and very fine Tudor-style wood panelling, Chancel screen, pulpit , reader desk and Commandment boards, Coats of Arms and other historic artefacts added in 1651-55 during repair and refurbishment of the Chapel by Robert Cholmondeley (1st Earl of Leinster) following the end of the English Civil War. There is a magnificent stained-glass window in the East Chancel above the alter and many other fine, individual stained-glass panes of interest, inset in the windows of the North and South Transepts and the Naves. There is also an Exhibition in the South Nave about the history of St. Nicholas Chapel, Cholmondeley Castle, and the Cholmondeley family.
Address
The Chapel of St Nicholas, Cholmondeley, Bickerton Rd, Malpas SY14 8AH
There is a 'Contact Us' email link within the Cholmondley Castle website at : http://www.cholmondeleycastle.com/contact
Phone
01829 720383
Website
http://www.cholmondeleycastle.com/the-chapel
Directions
St. Nicholas's Chapel is situated within the Park of Cholmondley Castle, Malpas, Cheshire off the A49 (Whitchurch/Tarporley Road) between Warrington and Whitchurch. The entrance to Cholmondeley Castle and Gardens is on Bickerton Road off the A49 opposite the Cholmondeley Arms Pub at the crossroads.SAT NAV: SY14 8ET
The Chapel can be accessed within the Park either by car or on foot. It is approximately a 20 minute walk from the Tea Room. A map of the Park including the route to the Chapel and location of other amenities is at: http://www.cholmondeleycastle.com/interactive-map
Opening Times
Please Note: Currently (as at September 2020) due to Covid-19, the Chapel remains closed although it can be viewed from the outside. Cholmondeley Gardens and Tea Room are open to the public on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Please check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change.
Transport
RAIL - The nearest railway stations are at Chester (15.5 miles (25 kms) , Crewe (13 miles (21 kms), Nantwich (9 miles ( 14 kms) and Whitchurch. (8 miles (13.03 kms) )
BUS - The nearest bus route is Service no. 41 ( Chester - Whitchurch) - alight at Market House, Hampstead Heath. Cholmondeley Castle is a walk of just under 3 miles from this bus stop (From Chester: https://moovitapp.com/north_west-2105/poi/Cholmondeley%20Castle/Malpas/en-gb?tll=53.057407_-2.692981&fll=53.02094_-2.75869&customerId=4908&ref=1&poiType=site or from Whitchurch: https://www.bing.com/maps?q=buses+to+Cholmondeley+Castle+from+Whitchurch%2C+Shropshire&form=ANNTH1&refig=32034f65ce774bc69c3cee29594ca241&sp=-1&ghc=1&pq=buses+to+cholmondeley+castle+from+whitchurch%2C+shropshire&sc=0-56&qs=n&sk=&cvid=32034f65ce774bc69c3cee29594ca241).
It is a 6 miles walk from the nearest bus route (Service no 84) from Nantwich. There are no direct bus services from Crewe which call on routes near Cholmondeley Castle.
Amenities
There is a Tea Room with Visitors' toilets (including Disabled toilet) within the Gardens of Cholmondeley Castle. The Tea Room also has Disabled Parking. The main Visitors' Car Park is near the Castle Entrance adjacent to the Gardens. There is a signed wheelchair accessible route within the Gardens ( nb. some areas of the Park and Gardens are unsuitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and users of other mobility aids).
There is a Children's Play Area behind the Tea Room Disabled Parking area. The Castle also has a Farm Shop on Bickerton Road near the Castle Entrance/Exit.
Visitors are welcome to picnic within the Gardens and wider Castle Park with additional visitor toilets and children's play areas.. (nb. at the present time (September 2020) due to COVID 19, the designated Picnic Area is not in use).
Refreshments and Bed & Breakfast accommodation are also offered* at the Cholmondeley Arms, nearby (outside the Castle grounds at the junction of Bickerton Road/ A49 crossroads). (* please check with this venue separately for current availability).
Travel Information
For further travel information please see: www.traveline.info
Or call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33
(Calls cost 12p per minute plus your phone company's access charge)
Location
Nearest Venues
*Distances are calculated in a straight line from the current venue, please allow extra time/distance based on available paths or roads.