Little Livermere St Peter & St Paul
Overview
Grid reference: TL 881 718
The church is at least 11th century in origin, however it is unclear if the present building retains any fabric from this early date. It underwent a restoration in the 'Strawberry Hill' Gothic style in the 18th century, and was stripped of its interior during the late 1940s.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
4-bay nave and chancel in one, west tower and north transept with lean-to porch. Crypt under the west end of the nave.
Dimensions:
Nave and chancel together 23m (71 feet) x 5.7m (18 feet).
Description of Archaeology and History
There are prehistoric earthworks and a Roman road in the immediate area, and both Livermere settlements and churches are mentioned in Domesday Book, at which time they belonged to the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds. The well-preserved underground remains of the deserted medieval village (SF 7138) of Little Livermere envelope the church to the north and west. The site and its immediate surroundings can thus be considered to be of considerable archaeological importance.
The church is at least 11th century in origin, however it is unclear if the present building retains any fabric from this early date, or indeed if the church referred to in Domesday was on the same site. The earliest reasonably secure dating is early 12th century, which is attested by a Romanesque carved door lintel. The main part of the building consists of a long narrow single cell with undivided chancel and nave, probably 12th century at the latest but with the east end altered in the 14th century. The west end was also altered, with the addition of a narrower west tower, probably in the 15th century.
The church was radically restored in the mid-18th century in “Strawberry Hill” Gothic style, with new nave windows and a new roof. This is traditionally held to have been the work of William Kent, though this remains unproved. A burial vault was inserted into the floor at the west end of the nave at this time, and a chapel for the squire’s pew built onto the north side.
This was all commissioned by the Lee (later Lee Acton) family who came into possession of the estate in the 1720’s and under whom the depopulation of the village of Little Livermere was completed. They lived at Livermere Hall to the south of Great Livermere, which was demolished in 1923. The church became a family chapel, almost a folly, with the heightening of the tower undertaken in the late 19th century to improve it as a landscape feature as seen from the Hall.
The church was rarely used by 1900, and the last service took place in 1915. The interior can be seen from photographs taken in 1947, at which time the church was still largely intact, to have been pure Georgian, with box pews and a fine pulpit with foot and tester. All this was stripped out and dispersed when the roof was removed in 1947. The building was not considered worthy of scheduling at the time, and has had the status of a controlled ruin since, though it is technically still licensed for worship. In recent years the ivy growth has achieved critical proportions, and the floor has collapsed revealing the burial vault under the nave, with the lead coffins within clearly visible and accessible.
Exterior Description
Where the fabric is visible, a complex history of rebuilds and patching within the flint rubble matrix can be discerned, especially in the north wall. In places the flint rubble walls are almost a metre thick, but the upper walls around the windows are much less robust. The windows have all blown in, and there is little left of the tracery. The original form of the earliest church is difficult to ascertain.
The lintel and doorway are decorated with a row of chip-carved imbricated lozenges, with pendant semi-circles below. There are rectangular stops at each end where it sits on the jambs, suggesting the lintel is here in situ, though it does look somewhat awkward and the suspicion remains that the piece is re-used.
There are two small lancet windows, one in the west face of the tower and the other blocked up in the north wall of the chancel. These are narrow and pointed and therefore probably c 1200 in date.
The east wall is pulling away from the side walls with large cracks visible, perhaps exacerbated by the ivy growth which is particularly thick here. This is despite the support afforded by two large buttresses, which appear to be medieval, perhaps 14th/15th century in origin.
The tower is tall, slim and unbuttressed.
Building Materials
Flint
Unknown
Limestone
Unknown
Barnack limestone quoins and dressings
Brick
18th Century
As part of the rebuild. Around the windows.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the 18th century rebuild was provided with a lath and plaster skin held on a timber frame, with false rib vaulting “supported” by slim pilasters, and with pointed arches above the doors all executed in plaster. The interior was furnished completely in the style of the period. The plaster skin still survives in many places, and it is possible that medieval features and plaster and even wall paintings may be preserved behind this.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1750
Small table. Now with Royal Air Force chapel, Martlesham.
Reredos
1750
Tripartite panelled oak with triangular pediment. Now with Royal Air Force chapel, Martlesham
Pulpit
Unknown
The fine oak panelled octagonal pulpit with tester went in 1948 to St John the Baptist, Egham, Surrey. It bore an inscription recording the following: “Abraham Redgrass of Ixworth bought this pulpit in March 1755, for Justice Lee of Livermere Hall.”
Font (object)
1750
Plastr, in the form of an urn with a coved foot and domed cover with cross handle. Now with the Royal Air Force chapel, Martlesham.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TL 881 718
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
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
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 | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
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
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