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Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Record Details

NHER Number:	8945
Type of record:	Building
Name:	St Peter's Church, Merton

Summary

A medieval and later parish church, possibly with Late Saxon elements. The west tower was built in two stages during the late 11th or early 12th century and some of it may date to before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The rest of the church was constructed in the first half of the 14th century, with alterations made during the 15th and 19th centuries. Inside are a complete rood stair, a 14th century painted rood screen, a 15th century font and a late 17th century communion rail.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:	TL 9119 9802
Map Sheet:	TL99NW
Parish:	MERTON, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

Full description

July 1958. Listed, Greade I.
Listing Description Excerpt:
"Parish church. C12 and C14. Flint, partly rendered with lead nave and pantiled chancel roofs. West tower, nave, south aisle and chancel. Plain C12 round tower with 2-light bell openings on central scalloped shafts. One 2-light window to lower- stage west, and lancet to north and south ringing chamber. Gabled north porch 1854 with hood mould on head stops... "
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current listing details.
H. Hamilton (HES), 15 August 2023.

July 1982. Field Observation.
Saxo-Norman round tower; remainder c1310-1340, with 15th and 19th century additions.
Many good furnishings, brasses, etc.
Information from HER Record Card (S4).
See also unpublished report (S16).
E. Rose (NAU), 21 July 1982. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 15 August 2023.

See report (S16) and press cutting (S17) in file.
Undergraduate dissertation (S20) in file
E. Rose (NAU), 21 July 1982 and 1996

1994 to 1999. Metal-detecting.
A metal detectorist found a part of a missing brass scroll from the medieval monumental brass of William de Grey. See NHER 40117 for location and discovery details.
D. Robertson (NLA), 26 June 2006.

This is one of the sixty five Norfolk churches selected for (S23).
D. Gurney (NLA), 17 February 2006.

Inside are a complete rood stair, a 14th century painted rood screen, de Grey family monuments (from the late 15th century to at least the late 19th century), a late 17th century communion rail and a 15th century Perpendicular font with a tall wooden cover (restored/replaced in 1834).
Information from (S16) and (S22).
D. Robertson (NLA), 26 June 2006.

October 2019-April 2023. Repair works.
A programme of repairs and improvements have been carried out as part of a National Heritage Lottery Fund project and additional grants from the Norfolk Churches Trust, The Round Tower Churches Society, The Geoffrey Watling Charity, and the Paul Bassam Charitable Trust. The nave roof has been restored with zinc following theft of the lead and new catering facilities have been installed. A new guidebook and new heritage displays have also been produced.
Information from press release (S24).
H. Hamilton (HES), 15 August 2023.

Monument Types

ROUND TOWERED CHURCH (Late Saxon to 19th Century - 851 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

DOOR (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
WINDOW (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
DOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
PISCINA (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WINDOW (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

Sources and further reading

---	Drawing: Various. Various. Architectural plans.
---	Secondary File: Secondary File.
---	Slide: Various. Slide.
<S1>	Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1172419.
<S2>	Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Late Saxon. Merton.
<S3>	Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TL 99 NW 14.
<S4>	Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
<S5>	Illustration: Ladbrooke. [unknown].
<S6>	Publication: Haines. 1861. A manual of monumental brasses : comprising an introduction to the study of these memorials and a list of those remaining in the British Isles. p.232. p 141-142.
<S7>	Article in Serial: Crabbe, G. 1864. Merton Church and Hall. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol VI pp 304-313. pp 304-309.
<S8>	Monograph: Bryant, T. H. 1898. Hundred of Wayland. The Churches of Norfolk. Vol I. pp 8-12.
<S9>	Publication: Cautley, H. M. 1949. Norfolk Churches.
<S10>	Monograph: Pevsner, N. 1962. North-West and South Norfolk. The Buildings of England. 1st Edition. pp 255-256; Pl 30.
<S11>	Publication: Taylor, H. M. and Taylor, J. 1965. Anglo-Saxon Architecture.
<S12>	Publication: [Unknown]. [unknown]. Palimpsests Behind 'Norfolk' Brasses (N).
<S13>	Article in Serial: Cotton, Simon. [unknown]. Norfolk Archaeology?.
<S14>	Leaflet: Roy Tricker, Simon Cotton. SS Peter & Paul, Griston..
<S15>	Leaflet: St. Peter's Church, Merton..
<S16>	Unpublished Document: Rose, E.. 1982. Building Report.. Building Report.
<S17>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1988. [Illustration of St Peter's Church, Merton]. 13 September.
<S18>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1992. Church's priceless silver stolen. 5 February.
<S19>	Article in Serial: 1992. Reward offered for 14th century platen.. Trace. March 1992.
<S20>	Unpublished Report: Bolton, A.. An Architectural Study of St Peter's Church, Merton, in the County of Norfolk.
<S21>	Correspondence: 1996. Merton Parish Church.
<S22>	Monograph: Pevsner, N and Wilson, B. 1999. Norfolk 2: North-West and South. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 537-538; Pl 24.
<S23>	Publication: Jenkins, S. 2000. England's Thousand Best Churches.
<S24>	Unpublished Document: Wesley-Smith, J. 2023. St Peter's Church, Merton, Heritage Lottery Fund Project - Press Release for the attention of Norfolk Heritage Explorer.

Related records - none

Find out more...

Parish Summary: Merton (Parish Summary)