Church Of St Petrock

The Church of St Petrock is a parish church, primarily dating to the 15th and 16th centuries, though the tower is likely older and reveals Early English origins. It was restored and enlarged in 1887 under the direction of Samuel Hooper of Hatherleigh. The church is constructed of stone rubble with a gable-ended slate roof. The plan includes a nave, a south aisle and chapel, a west tower, and a south porch. Early English windows in the chancel, alongside a Norman font, suggest the church’s early development, but it was largely remodeled in the 15th and 16th centuries when the south aisle and porch were added. The form of the tower suggests it could be pre-Perpendicular in style.

A significant restoration occurred in 1887, which involved extending the chancel by 3 feet, removing old pews, and reseating the church with new benches incorporating ancient woodwork. Some of this woodwork was also used in the pulpit’s construction. The roofs were renewed, and most windows were replaced. New pinnacles were added to the tower.

The two-stage, unbuttressed west tower is battlemented with obelisk finials and features a 20th-century 2-light west window with simple tracery, and trefoiled belfry lights. On the north wall are two early 16th-century 2-light mullion windows with segmental heads. Adjacent to these is a rectangular projection for a rood stair. Further east is an Early English window, dating circa 1300, featuring 2 lights with Y-tracery. The east wall has a large, late 19th-century Perpendicular style window. The east window of the south aisle is a debased Perpendicular window of 3 lights. On the south wall of the aisle are three late 19th-century Decorated style windows. The gabled porch, dating to the 15th century, contains a 4-centred granite arch with roll and hollow moulding to the jambs, and a moulded impost. A slate sundial, dated 1723, sits above the porch entrance.

Inside the porch, the roof is completely restored. The south doorway is made of granite with a basket arch and ogee and hollow moulding. A 4-bay south arcade features Pevsner A-type piers with cup capitals, with 4-centred moulded arches. A pointed rubble tower arch is also present. In the north chancel wall is a granite doorway with a depressed 4-centred arch which formerly led to a rood loft; steps now lead to the pulpit. Internal walls are plastered, except for the exposed stonework on the west wall. The roofs are arch-braced, dating to the late 19th century. The pulpit incorporates reused carved panels depicting emblems of the passion. Benches include carvings from the old pews, likely dating to the 16th century, with some Renaissance motifs. A Norman tub font sits on a base incorporating medieval Barnstaple tiles, also visible in the floors.