Church Of St Peter

TM 15 SW 3/39

BAYLHAM Church Lane Church of St. Peter

9.12.55

II*

Church, medieval. Nave, chancel and west tower. The chancel was heavily remodelled, and two transepts and south porch were added 1870, in the Decorated style. Flint rubble with freestone dressings. Plaintiled roof with parapet gable. The north nave doorway (now blocked) is of an unusual form, probably C11: a deep lintel sits upon square jambs, and above it is a round arch. The tympanum has a scratched diaperwork pattern framed by an arched raised band. An early C14 pointed window in south aisle wall with matching restored piscina. Later C14 traceried south nave window. Plain late C14 tower with lion-head gargoyles, 2-light belfry openings and west window, and splayed ringing chamber windows of red brick. C15 coupled-rafter nave and chancel roofs, canted, and with unusual cavetto-moulded eaves sprockets. In 1870 moulded crownposts were set upon the existing nave tie-beams, and both roofs were ceiled with boarding. In the north nave wall are two windows of c.1500. Fine C15 octagonal limestone font with sunk panels on the bowl bearing roses, lions and angels; the stem has lion figures, seated at each angle. Set into the north chancel wall is a fine C17 monument to John and Elizabeth Acton. Their kneeling effigies are overshadowed by the skeletal figure of Death and beneath are their 5 children. In the chancel floor is a series of 6 good marble floor slabs with achievements all to late C17 and early C18 members of the Acton family. In the nave floor is another slab of 1689.

Listing NGR: TM1022851547