East Drayton St Peter

Archaeology

Core fabric C12-C15th

Nave with north and south aisles, C13th-C15th

Chancel has evidence of Transitional work, c.1190 and later development to C15th

Tower C15th, buttressed and with pinnacles

South porch C15th with vaulted stone roof

Significant Interior Features

Complex, multiphase fabric evident in parts (eg. east wall of the chancel)

Rood screen C15th restored

Late medieval nave roof with carved bosses and painted decoration

C18-C19th mural paintings in tower

Mural painting (traces) in N.Aisle

Medieval Cross Slab

Rectangular floor stone at the south-east corner of the nave (may be under the lectern), incised design, in reasonable condition. Straight-arm cross with fleur-de-lys terminals, rising from a stepped ‘masonry’ base, marginal inscription between deeply-cut borders, in a crude and clumsy variant upon black letter, worn in parts and difficult to read. The date, spelt out on the south side, seems to be 1512. It is thought to commemorate a member of the local Burgh family.

Description and drawing of the cross slab courtesy of Peter Ryder.

Technical Summary

Timbers and roofs

  Nave Chancel Tower
Main Ties and panels C15th (repaired 1982) Curved braces and ties, prob. 1857

Twin east-west tie beams with north-south crossing beam above. The two lower ties appear medieval and the upper timbers, including purlins, rafters, and wall plates are later, but possibly pre-C19th
S.Aisle Lean-to, plaster panels    
N.Aisle Lean-to, plaster panels    
Other principal S.Porch C15th stone rib vaulted   Ringer's gallery: flat. painted, prob. 1873
Other timbers      

Bellframe

Cast-iron, low-sided frame, Pickford Group 8.3.A with simple 'X' braces to sides - 1952 by Taylors of Loughborough

Not scheduled for preservation. Grade 5.

Walls

  Nave Chancel Tower
Plaster covering & date Not plastered Plastered, probably 1857 and later Plastered, probably C18th
Potential for wall paintings High (traces in N.aisle) Visible on surround to north doorway; more probable under plaster C18-C19th paintings on ground floor walls

Excavations and potential for survival of below-ground archaeology

The potential for surviving archaeology in all areas of this church is good. The upstanding fabric is complex and mutiphase, except where clearly from the C15th major expansion. There are no details of below-ground startigraphy, but no major disturbances are recorded and therefore potential may be considered high.

The overall potential for the survival of below-ground archaeology in the churchyard is considered high and below the present interior floors throughout the building is considered to be high.

Exterior: Largely inhumation burials, medieval to C19th. Boundaries may have importance in the development of the site.

Interior: Nave, chancel, and tower have developed normally from at least the late C12th through to the C15th, with some C19th and C20th restoration. Stratigraphy is likely to be complex and largely intact, representing all major phases of the building.

Standing fabric is complex and multiphase with some clear unified periods of building.