Church Of St Peter

The Church of St Peter is a parish church dating back to the Saxon and medieval periods, with restoration work undertaken in 1878. It is constructed of coursed flint with stone dressings, and has a plain and fish scale tile roof. The church comprises a round west tower, a nave and south aisle, and north and south porches. A chancel was lost in 1726.

The west tower is in three stages, with the first and second stages in coursed flint and some iron conglomerate. The first stage has been renewed and incorporates brick mosaic, and features short horizontal bands of thin tiles, five tiles thick. The octagonal C14 bell stage has an embattled parapet, a string course, and gargoyles. A two-light west window and bell openings are of Reticulated tracery, the west window being renewed. A single light is present in the second stage, and a south-east stair turret adjoins the tower. Quoins are visible at the west of the nave in iron conglomerate.

The north porch is characterised by a low-angle C19 slate roof, a front of knapped flint, a gable cross, and a niche. It features a continuous moulded arch with a chamfered head and round shafts, and windows to each side with two cusp-headed lights under four trefoil-headed panels. The north door is a continuous chamfered arch with a roll hood mould. Two C19 three-light windows with panel tracery are positioned in the north nave. The east gable is of flint and brick mosaic over a lower base of flint, incorporating pebble flint in the gable. A C19 three-light Decorated window is present, flanked by diagonal buttresses of stone dressed flint rubble with knapped flint. An east window to the south aisle has three ogee-headed lights dating to the C13, while two Perpendicular windows in the south aisle each have two trefoil-headed lights under a square head. A ball flower label is visible on the hood of the west window.

The south porch is constructed of flint rubble with a low-pitched slate roof. The 4-centred arch, now blocked with knapped flint, is flanked by round shafts. C19 windows of two lights are on each side. The south doorway has chamfered jambs to a double roll head under an ogee hood mould.

Inside, the 1878 roof features rafters and collars, with corbels in the form of heads. A tall tower arch has a segmental pointed head and some brick dressing. The west wall and tower incorporate short bands of thin tiles. The stair turret door has a 4-centred arch. A three-bay south arcade features octagonal piers and double-chamfered arches. The south aisle roof is dated 1710 on the wall plate and exhibits arch-braced rafters, moulded purlins, and principal rafters. An angel bracket is at the apex of the rear arch to the south door, above which is a canvas achievement of George III. An oblong font with wide chamfered corners is complemented by a font cover with crocketted splats tapering to a finial.