Church Of St Peter

HOLTON BECCLES ROAD TM 4077 8/14 Church of St. Peter 1.9.53 II*

Parish church. Medieval; considerably restored 1856-7, when the north aisle was added. Nave, chancel, west tower, north aisle, south porch. Flint rubble with stone dressings; small remains of old plaster on the south chancel wall; the north aisle is faced with knapped flint. Plaintiled roofs. C12 round tower with a later bell-chamber stage of brick and flint rubble, with a red brick crenellated parapet. There are original semi-circular headed lancet windows at 3 levels, the upper range of 8 (alternate ones now blocked) being the original bell-chamber level. The later stage has louvred bell-chamber openings to each quarter. C12 core to nave, the south wall re-faced in C19 and with 3 C19 pointed lancet windows. Fine C12 south nave doorway, unusually call: one order of colonnettes with scallop-carved cushion capitals and cable- moulded shaft rings; the arch has an outer ring of scallops and 2 orders of roll-moulding. Above the doorway is a C12 carved panel depicting an animal in profile. C15 porch, considerably restored but with its original arched-braced roof. Above the entrance is an ogee-headed niche within which is a C19 statue of St. Peter. 2-bay chancel with 2-light C15 windows and a Priest's doorway; C19 3-light east window with intersecting tracery. The north aisle extends almost the full length of the nave and chancel and has lancet windows. Interior 3-bay nave arcade, 2-bay chancel arcade; the chancel aisle is used as the organ chamber and vestry. 5-bay arch-braced nave roof, probably C15 but altered and rebuilt at a lower level in mid C19. 3-bay arched-braced chancel roof, the main trusses C15, otherwise much renewed. Early C15 octagonal font, the bowl with foiled panels carved with alternate blank shields and flowers; the bowl is supported by 8 carved heads and the stem has 8 colonnettes. Simple pointed-arch piscina in south sanctuary. Mid C19 furnishings. Arms of George III over tower arch. The east window has stained glass by Kempe, dated 1899.

Listing NGR: TM4025677875