Record Details
| NHER Number: | 1085 |
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| Type of record: | Building |
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| Name: | St Peter's Church, Yaxham |
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Summary
This church consists of a round west tower, the base of which has a banding of carstone and is probably Late Saxon, a nave with a south aisle and clerestorey, a south porch and a chancel. The upper part of the tower is 14th century and the crenellated parapet is post medieval. The rest of the church is 14th and 15th century work, subjected to a Victorian restoration. Inside is a Saxon tower arch which has a smaller arch high above it, either providing access to the roofspace for maintenance and lighting or access to the ringing chamber other than by way of the ground floor of the tower at times when other liturgical activities were in progress. The body of the church is lit by 19th century stained glass windows, the east window being the best example. In the south aisle are some carved 19th century bench ends, including on the front pew a pelican. The 15th century carved octagonal font is in a very good state of preservation.
Images
Location
| Grid Reference: | TG 0073 1070 |
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| Map Sheet: | TG01SW |
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| Parish: | YAXHAM, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK |
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Full description
May 1960. Listed, Grade II.
Listing Description excerpt:
"Parish church. Medieval and later. Flint and ferruginous conglomerate rubble with limestone and ferruginous conglomerate ashlar dressings. Some brick. Slate and lead roofs. West tower; nave with south aisle and south porch; chancel. Late 11th or early 12th century circular west tower with quadrant pilasters."
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current details.
H. Hamilton (HES), 31 August 2022.
June 1978. Field Observation.
St Peter's Church. Round tower base called Saxon by R.R. Clarke (S3), "undoubtedly pre-conquest" by Cautley, Saxo-Norman by Taylor and Taylor (S4). The obvious Saxon feature is the tower arch and the doorway above. Large conglomerate querns on nave NW, and also on 15th-century south porch - presumably reused. Other blocks scattered in walls.
South arcade late-13th/earth-14th century; piers are alternately quatrefoil and octagonal, but all stand on rough flint bases c. 2 feet high: were these originally circular seats, later cut down when pews inserted?
Chancel in Decorative style (14th century) heavily restored in 19th centry but probably preserving original form, including ogee piscina with shelf and sedilia in base of southeast window.
South priests' door odd - almost round headed, heavy hoodmould with remains of carving above (coat of arms?); 16th century?
South aisle has a crocketed Decorative piscina. Easternmost north nave window Deocrative, set in recess with traces of painting, cut away on east side and at base where there is an exterior door - for rood stair? Another rood stair ascends from south aisle, the turret being supported by a corbel on exterior in angle of aisle and chancel; much brick here.
In Perpendicular period (15th-century), new windows put in south aisle wall, south porch added, new clerestory made (window over hcancel arch could be older), chancel arch renewed, and two large windows put in north wall, one shorter than the other so that they descend in size to the remaining Decorative window. Panelled buttresses also added to this wall. Top added to tower and west window inserted. Roof of south aisle old - 15th-century? See remaining tracery above one pair of arched braces, though rest have been cut down and roof part panelled. Nave roof ?early 19th-century.
Ornate carved Perpendicular font. Some Perpendicular work in rood screen and screen at west end of south aisle. Some Jacobean work in choir stalls. Stone coffin lid with foliate cross (damaged). Sundial on clerestory exterior. Heraldic stained glass in west window south aisle could be old, but not visible from inside. Chalice Norwich 1661; paten, London 1818. Good gravestones in yard.
Transcribed from information compiled on record card (S2).
H. Hamilton (HES), 31 August 2022.
1970s or 80s. Alan Carter Norwich Survey.
See (S5), which includes (S6), in file.
T.E. Miller (NLA), 19 April 2006.
Pre-November 1986. Repairs.
The main aisle has been re-roofed but additional funds are required to repair the nave roof and windows.
Information from press cutting (S7).
H. Hamilton (HES), 31 August 2022.
Print-out from Norfolk Churches website (S8) in file.
November 2018. Casual Observation.
Observation of internal works associated with upgrade to electricity supply.
An aperture was made in the south wall of the tower to accommodate a duct for the new cable. Within the church the floor pamments were lifted so that ducts could be laid beneath them. It was reported that only a loose sandy soil was encountered.
See report (S9) for further works.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 August 2024.
Monument Types
- ROUND TOWERED CHURCH (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
- CHURCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
Associated Finds
- UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
- COFFIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- FONT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- PISCINA (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- WINDOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- DOOR (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Protected Status
- Listed Building
- Listed Building
Sources and further reading
| --- | Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 01 SW 13. |
| --- | Monograph: Mortlock, D. & Roberts, C.. 1985. The Popular Guide to Norfolk Churches: Norwich, Central and South Norfolk.. No 2. |
| --- | Monograph: Pevsner, N and Wilson, B. 1999. Norfolk 2: North-West and South. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 808-809. |
| --- | Leaflet: The Church of St Peter, Yaxham.. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| --- | Slide: Various. Slide. |
| <S1> | Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1077296. |
| <S2> | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. NHER 1085. |
| <S3> | Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Late Saxon. Yarmouth (Great). |
| <S4> | Publication: Taylor, H. M. and Taylor, J. 1965. Anglo-Saxon Architecture. p 695. |
| <S5> | Archive: Carter, A.. Alan Carter Archive Material. |
| <S6> | Drawing: Various. Various. Architectural plans. |
| <S7> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1986. First phase of church repairs. 12 November. |
| <S8> | Website: Knott, S.. 2006. St Peter, Yaxham. http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/yaxham/yaxham.htm. 17 September 2007. |
| <S9> | Unpublished Contractor Report: Bates, S. 2019. Report on Work under Archaeological Supervision and Control. St Peter’s Church, Yaxham, Norfolk. Upgrade of electrical supply and installation of water supply. Sarah Bates. 41. |
Related records
| 68465 | Parent of: Churchyard of St Peter's Church, Yaxham (Monument) |
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