Church Of St Peter

Church of St Peter

This redundant parish church at Hockwold cum Wilton stands as a multi-period structure built and remodelled over several centuries. The main body of the church—the south-west tower and nave—dates to the mid-14th century. The nave and south aisle were remodelled in the 15th century when the chancel was constructed. There is no north aisle. The church underwent restoration in 1857. It is built of flint with ashlar dressings and slate roofs.

The tower is two stages externally, though internally divided into three stages. It stands on a moulded plinth course with stepped angle buttresses. The west elevation contains a 2-light reticulated window. The ringing chamber has 19th-century rounded lancets. Below the belfry stage runs a string course, and the belfry windows are 2-light reticulated. The top is finished with a plain parapet.

The aisle walls feature two 2-light reticulated windows and one 3-light Perpendicular window set under a 4-centred arch. Flat buttresses project diagonally to the east. A 3-light intersecting and ogeed window lights the east end of the aisle. The south porch is gabled with a depressed stilted arch; its sides are lit by square-headed 2-light windows.

The nave clerestory comprises four 3-light windows with supermullions rising to 4-centred arches. The chancel south wall contains two 19th-century 2-light Perpendicular windows and a depressed arched priest's door, with one flat buttress below. Diagonal east buttresses stand on a flushwork plinth. The chancel terminates in a 3-light Perpendicular east window below a quatrefoil oculus. The north chancel wall mirrors the south side.

The north nave wall is braced by a heavy stepped flint buttress at its east end and two sloping 19th-century buttresses to the west. Angle buttresses occur at the west corner. This elevation contains two 2-light square windows and one 3-light transomed early Perpendicular window. The nave's west window is particularly fine, comprising three lights with double intersecting ogees enclosing a cusped vesica, dating from around 1340.

Inside, the nave is separated from the south aisle by a 4-bay arcade of octagonal piers with moulded polygonal bases and capitals, linked by double chamfered arches. The south clerestory windows align above the arcade apexes. The nave roof is of considerable architectural interest: it combines alternating tie beams and false hammer beams, with the ties set on punched arched braces that carry queen posts and subsidiary struts. The hammer beams take the form of carved angel figures supported on arched braces, from which spring pierced arched braces up to a moulded ridge piece. The roof is finished with one tier of moulded butt purlins and moulded principals.

The tower arch to the south aisle has octagonal responds set on fluted plinths. The arched entrance to the tower stairs is detailed with double continuous wave mouldings and a hoodmould on labels. At the east end of the south aisle stand bench sedilia and a cinquefoiled ogee piscina. A plain octagonal font occupies the nave. Above the north door survives wall painting with flowers. The chancel roof and sedilia and piscina are substantially 19th-century work, though the piscina retains its ogeed form.

The church contains two significant monuments. To the left of the chancel east window is a marble monument to Jermyn Wyche and Maria Hungerford, dated 1719 and sculpted by Robert Singleton of Bury St. Edmunds. The composition features two busts standing on a gadrooned plinth before a still life showing putti with musical instruments. This central group is framed by two composite columns, with additional cherubs on the plinth before composite pilasters. An inscription occupies the apron below the busts. A second marble monument to Cyril Wyche, dated 1780, was created by John Ivory and J. de Carle. It comprises a moulded plinth supported on reeded consoles with palmettes, and a central inscription panel. On the plinth stands a figure of a weeping winged cherub beside a broken column and fallen torch, set against a black marble background.