Weight: 896 lbs Diameter: 34" Bell 1 of 4
Founded by William Brend 1629
Dove Bell ID: 6585 Tower ID: 14887 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Swainsthorpe: St Peter
Overview
Grid reference: TG 218 9
A small medieval flint church, with a round west tower betraying its Saxo-Norman origins. There were originally two churches in the village, but there is no trace today of Swainsthorpe St Mary near the river, abandoned before the Reformation. The round west tower of the surviving church is probably of the 12th century, but it has traditionally been thought that it was built onto a pre-existing Saxon nave. The rest of the building dates to a rebuild in the 14th century, when the north aisle and porch were added, as well as the top stage of the tower, and a new chancel built.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Church open regularly: Saturdays 9am - 3pm throughout the year. Grade II* listed building Visitor parking nearby Toilets nearby or inside the church On a footpath, trail or cycle route Local shop(s) or amenities nearby Angel Roof
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 199 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
There were originally two churches in the village, but there is no trace today of Swainsthorpe St Mary near the river, abandoned before the Reformation. The round west tower of the surviving church is probably of the 12th century, but it has traditionally been thought that it was built onto a pre-existing Saxon nave. There is little evidence to support this apart from the dimensions and height of the nave, which is suggestive but not conclusive. Some at least of the brick and tile and perhaps even flint may have been brought from the ruins at the Roman settlement at Caistor, less than 2 miles to the north.
The rest of the building (probably including the tower arch) dates to a rebuild in the 14th century, when the north aisle and porch were added, as well as the top stage of the tower, and a new chancel built. The south nave and chancel windows were installed in the 15th century, and the roofs replaced. The church was heavily restored in 1885 at a cost of £1500 when the south porch was reduced in height and rebuilt, the chancel roof replaced and the nave roof restored. Almost all the furnishings and fittings were replaced. The chancel east window probably dates to this phase. Repairs were undertaken to the windows in 1997 and 2003 with small grants from the HCPT and Garfield Weston Trust.
Exterior Description
C12 west tower. Remainder C14. South windows 1443. Restored 1885 when south porch rebuilt. Flint with ashlar dressings and plain tile roofs. West tower, nave, north aisle and chancel. 2 stage circular tower with C14 octagonal belfry. 2-light renewed Perpendicular west window. Lancet to west side of ringing chamber. Alternating facets of belfry have 2-light Perpendicular windows under depressed heads. Crenellated parapet. No west window to aisle. Gabled south porch on low diagonal buttresses. Moulded arch on circular responds. 2-light square-headed cusped side windows. 2 3-light Perpendicular south nave windows with panel tracery. Wave moulded north aisle doorway and one 2-light square-headed aisle window. 2 light mouchette east aisle window. Stepped side buttress to south nave east and 2 2-light square-headed south chancel windows of Perpendicular design and one similar north window. 3-light east window of similar design and C19.
As listed on Historic England website
Building Materials
Flint
Interior
Interior Description
Tall wave moulded tower arch without responds. Re-cut C13 font : central drum and 8 orbiting marble columns support octagonal bowl with 2 incised arches to each panel. Restored 5 bay nave roof of moulded principals on arched braces dropping to moulded wall posts, themselves on head stops. One tier butt purlins. Winged. angels as bosses. Ridge piece. 2 bay C14 octagonal arcade to north aisle with moulded capitals and bases. Double hollow chamfered arches. Narrower C19 arch to east. Triple chamfered C19 chancel arch without responds. Chancel roof as nave. 4 C15 poppyheads in chancel stalls. Pierced and cusped piscina. Memorial brass in chancel to Gilbert Havers 1628 : inscription only; he was Captain of Infantry to Elizabeth I.
As listed on Historic England website
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
17th Century
Oak table with turned legs and dentilled front panels
Bell Frame
1509
Maker
Pickford
5.H
Date
1509
Visit
PC
Description
OFJ
Jurisdiction
Number of Bells
Material
Reredos
1885
Curtain
Pulpit
1885
Oak, hexagonal with blind tracery panels on a stone base. Scrolled iron bracket attached to the wall, to hold a candle.
Lectern
1885
Wood, plain.
Font (object)
1885
Re-cut 13th-century font, central drum and eight replaced marble columns support octagonal bowl with two incised arches to each panel.
Organ (object)
1921
Single manual pipe organ by Nicholas Fitt of Norwich
Plaque (object)
1975
Brass plaque to Jenny Howard, organist, died 1975.
Plaque (object)
1895
Large brass plaque with red and black lettering, William Fellowes, curate, died 1895.
Plaque (object)
1784
Small brass plaque, William Rook, rector and patron, died 1784.
Rail
1885
Wrought iron standards, plain oak rail.
Bells
Weight: 392 lbs Diameter: 25.5" Bell 2 of 4
Founded by (unidentified)
Dove Bell ID: 41659 Tower ID: 14887 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 532 lbs Diameter: 28.5" Bell 3 of 4
Founded by William Brend 1629
Dove Bell ID: 41660 Tower ID: 14887 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 560 lbs Diameter: 31" Bell 4 of 4
Founded by William Brend 1629
Dove Bell ID: 41661 Tower ID: 14887 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TG 218 9
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
The churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard has war graves.
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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