Flawborough: St Peter
Overview
Grid reference: SK 782 428
A small early Victorian church of brick in a Georgian Gothick style, retaining the west doorway of its 12th-century predecessor to the tower and other features. As with the other churches in the area the church was mostly rebuilt in brick in a Georgian style in 1840-1 for Rev Staunton, with contributions from the Duke of Newcastle and Staunton residents listed on a board with the painted image of the old church. Several features from the old church were retained in the new building, notably the chancel walls and (possibly) chancel east window, the doorways, piscina, and bells. This is a small and quite charming rural chapel in a picturesque setting, simply built and furnished.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower, 2-bay nave, 2-bay chancel with north vestry.
Dimensions:
Nave c 13m (42ft) x 7m (23ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
Finds of any period are possible, and Flawborough stands on part of the site of a Roman settlement, now partly quarried away for gypsum and other minerals. There have been frequent finds over the years. A Christian presence here in the later part of this period is indicated by a circular tank found just to the north-east of the church, of sheets of lead, interpreted as a baptism tank. It bore the inscription VTERE FELIX, ‘Use happily”, a common Roman phrase.
Flawborough is recorded in the Domesday Survey as being in the lands of Walter D’Aincourt, no church is mentioned. The church is shown in a painting of 1840, consisting of a heavily buttressed west tower, unroofed nave with (?)14th-century windows and the present west doorway in the west bay. It was a chapelry to Staunton, and is now in a benefice with the latter. The nearby Medieval settlement (DMV) at Kilvington is a Scheduled Monument (National Monument 29997).
The churchyard is therefore of considerable archaeological potential.
As with the other churches in the area the church was mostly rebuilt in brick in a Georgian style in 1840-1 for Rev Staunton, with contributions from the Duke of Newcastle and Staunton residents listed on a board with the painted image of the old church. Several features from the old church were retained in the new building, notably the chancel walls and (possibly) chancel east window, the doorways, piscina, and bells. The church was restored in 1892, when the vestry was added and the interior refurnished. In 1974 the bells were rehung, the old clappers and headstocks displayed at the west end. Redecoration was undertaken some years ago with Classidur paint.
Exterior Description
This is a small and quite charming rural chapel in a picturesque setting, simply built and furnished, which would be a perfect prop for a Jane Austen or similar period drama. The church and churchyard are very well kept.
The square west tower is of three stages divided by string courses, with clasping buttresses with two weatherings. It has moulded eaves and a coped parapet and pinnacles, under which the belfry stage has single lancet openings. The west side has the re-sited 11th-century doorway with zigzag, nailhead and scallop bands, carried on pairs of colonettes with leaf and scallop capitals. It appears to have been recut to a large extent, particularly the first order.
Above the doorway is a datestone with label, inscribed “This Church rebuilt 1840”, above this a cusped 13th-century style 2-light pointed window with projecting quoins and hood mould. The north side has a round stair turret with conical slab roof and pointed doorway. First stage to the south face has a lancet set low, below a late 18th-century eroded slate tablet with an urn in the head, above this a blocked oculus.
The nave has moulded eaves and coped parapets and gables. Windows have iron lozenge-shaped glazing bars and hood moulds. The side walls have ashlar buttresses to each bay and two pointed 2-lights with Y-tracery to each wall. The lower chancel has a coped east gable with kneelers and finial cross. East end has pointed 14th-century style (and possibly substance?) 3-light window with panel tracery. South wall has two tall mullioned casement windows with cusped heads in square headed reveals, probably late 19th-century. The very simple lean-to vestry has a wooden window to north, the east end has a pointed double-chamfered stone doorway with re-set conical finial; was this the Medieval priest’s doorway? The inner doorway is plain, square frame.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
19th Century West tower
Nave
19th Century 2-bay nave
Chancel
19th Century 2-bay chancel
Vestry
19th Century North vestry
Building Materials
Brick
19th Century Georgian-style rebuilding
Limestone
19th Century The chancel with rough cast covering lias stonework to the east and north walls.
Ashlar
19th Century Ashlar dressings and a chamfered plinth.
Timber
19th Century Timber roofs
Slate
19th Century Westmoreland and Welsh slate roof
Terracotta
19th Century Terracotta ridge tiles
Interior
Interior Description
Moving inside, the interior is plastered. Looking west, there is a chamfered and rebated elliptical tower arch. Tower chamber has glazed draught screen with Gothic tracery. The nave has a strutted king-post roof painted green, the chancel has a similar lower roof in orange. The chancel arch is low, 4-centred. In the chancel south wall is a restored 13th-century piscina, a simple pointed arch. Softwood stalls, desks and benches, floor of stone flags to the nave, quarry tiles set in geometric patterns in the chancel. There are two handsome candelabra here, one brass and perhaps 18th-century, the other iron and Victorian. Modern lighting and high level heaters.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th Century Plain table
Pulpit
19th Century Deal octagonal panelled pulpit with pointed arcade.
Lectern
19th Century Bracketed wrought iron lectern.
Bell Frame
20th Century A modern wooden frame of 1974 by Taylors. The original headstocks and clappers are displayed in the church.
Organ (object)
19th Century A small harmonium by Compton of Newark.
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers dating from 1674. (Held at Public Record Office)
Bishops chair.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SK 782 428
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
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