Headon cum Upton
St Peter

Archaeology

Technical Summary

Timbers and roofs

NAVE CHANCEL TOWER
Main Flat, boarded panels with moulded cornice. Above this ceiling is a king post roof structure with raking braces from King posts and principal rafters; side purlins and ridge purlin. Probably all 1885. Flat, boarded panels with moulded ribs. Probably all 1858.. Central tie and king post, principal and raking rafters. All apparently C19th, probably 1885.
S.Aisle Lean-to with braced ties to principal rafters; probably 1885. n/a  
N.Aisle Lean-to with braced ties to principal rafters; probably 1885. n/a  
Other principal     Belfry floor has pre-C19th timbers in part.
Other timbers      

Bellframe

Timber bellframe, Elphick type R variant, Pickford Group 5.C variant. The north and south sides have cill, king post, long head and straight braces from cill to post, jointed to king post and head. The east and west sides have no king post but curving braces from cill to long head with secondary straight braces to corner posts, a Pickford Group 5.R variant. Dendrochronology estimates felling date between 1408-28, so this frame probably dates soon after 1428.

Walls

NAVE CHANCEL TOWER
Plaster covering & date All plastered and painted C19th/20th. All plastered and painted C19th/20th. Open stonework, not covered
Potential for wall paintings Some evidence of earlier, probably C19th scheme, under present decoration. Some red ochre on stonework in places, probably medieval. Possibly C19th scheme under present with red ochre visible on stonework in parts, probably medieval.. None.

Excavations and potential for survival of below-ground archaeology

No known archaeological excavations have been undertaken.

The fabric dates principally from the C13th to the C15th with later restorations. There were restorations in 1805, 1858, and 1885. The majority of the medieval fabric remains intact and the low C13th tower is unusual, having blocked north and south transeptal arches. The bellframe is unique in Nottinghamshire and is of major importance.

The churchyard is rectangular in shape with the church offset to the south-east corner. There are burials on all sides except the east which is adjacent to the road, with modern burials principally to the north-west.

The overall potential for the survival of below-ground archaeology in the churchyard is considered to be HIGH-VERY HIGH comprising medieval construction evidence, burials, and landscaping. Below the present interior floors of the church it is considered to be HIGH-VERY HIGH comprising medieval-C19th stratigraphy with post-medieval burials. The archaeology of the upstanding fabric throughout is medieval and its archaeological potential is HIGH-VERY HIGH.

Exterior: Burial numbers expected to be average.

Interior: Stratigraphy under the entire building is likely to be medieval with later layers and restoration evidence. In the body of the church the stratigraphy is likely to be punctuated by medieval and post-medieval burials.