Church Of St Peter

TL87 SE GT. LIVERMERE CHURCH ROAD

2/36 Church of St. Peter

14.7.55 - I

Parish church. C13 and later. In rubble flint, still partly covered in old render, Reed thatch on nave, plaintiles with ornate ridge on chancel. The nave has diagonal buttresses at the west end, single angle buttresses on the east. 3 2-light windows with reticulated tracery on north and south sides. Blocked north doorway with rebuilt arch, probably C17: rounded, with hollow moulding. The chancel has single-light low-side windows to north and south walls, and on the south side a plain C13 priest's door, one blocked C13 lancet window, and a 3-light window with intersecting tracery. The 3-light east window, C19 restored, in Decorated style similar to the nave windows, has a blocked foliated circular window in a square surround above. To the north of the chancel, a castellated early C19 vestry, in black knapped flint with white brick dressings, has 3-light round-headed windows with intersecting Gothic tracery. Truncated west tower in 3 stages, with a weatherboarded top and pyramid roof. Diagonal buttresses on west. South porch with gabled pantiled roof, crenellated along the sides. Diagonal buttresses. 2 2-light windows, restored 1983. Open timber roof, 3 bays, arch braced. C13 south doorway. Inside the nave there are remains of medieval wall-paintings on the north and south walls, and an elaborate canopied and traceried niche in the north wall which housed the shrine of Our Lady of Pity. Royal Arms, carved in high relief, over the north door. Early C20 benches, but 6 Jacobean benches with ends in fleur-de-lys form at the back. An octagonal late C14 front has traceried panels on a plain base. Large double doors to base of tower with baroque mouldings and carving, and a fine 3-decker pulpit with raised fielded panels and acanthus foliage of the same date, circa 1700. A piscina at the east end of the south wall, with cusped ogee head and a tiny niche beside it. Fine screen, with traces of gilding and colour, cusped ogee heads to broad single light divisions, crocketed spirelets. The blocked doorway to the rood stair beside the pulpit. Roof timbers replaced in late C20. The chancel roof, uncovered during restoration in the 1960's, is very fine: king post trusses with arched braces to the tie-beams extending down the walls, and terminating in coronated capitals. 2 rows of moulded butt purlins. Pierced and carved cornice with battlemented ornament at top and bottom. Along the south wall is the remains of a band of painted medieval decoration. On each side of the east window is a long cusped and crocketed niche. The southern low side window retains its wooden shutter. Fine early C18 3-sided altar rails with iron-twist balusters. 3 early C17 benches, one with 'WM 1601' carved on the end, and a high-backed settle, incorporating a C15 poppy-head bench-end.

Listing NGR: TL8851771384