Radford
St Peter

Archaeology

Previous building

From the limited information available in a sketch, possibly made in 1811 before the demolition of the old church, the building appears to have comprised a nave with at least a south aisle, a chancel with a south chapel, and a west tower. There was no porch but direct access through a doorway at the west end of the south aisle into the body of the church. There was also a west doorway in the tower. Architectural details are limited but all the window tracery, including the belfry openings, appear to be of 'Y-bar' form, and therefore dating to c1300. The embattled parapets of the aisle and tower may be 15th century, which date would also accord with the tower angle buttresses. The lower part of the tower at least appears to have been constructed of ashlar.

William Stretton's description reads:

stone and brick, with lead covering the nave and south aisle.

The low tower had battlements, and was also lead covered. The single aisle was separated from the nave by low pointed arches. There was a narrow chancel, and three east windows with bays and a lancet window on the south. He found the church to be damp and ‘ruinous’, with the back wall supported by clumsy brick pillars. There were no monuments or private chapels.

Present building

Summary

Nave

Rectangular, aisleless space all of 1812 with 'Y-bar'n traceried side windows also of 1812. Simple, pointed doorway into base of tower, no arch.

Chancel

All of 1871 in rock-faced ashlar. High, Gothic chancel arch in Early English style with hood mould and triple marble shafts bearing capitals with foliate ornamentation. Arched roof. East window in neo-Decorated style.

North chancel chapel

1871 in rock-faced ashlar.

South chancel organ chamber
Also 1871 in rock-faced ashlar with ornate, geometrical-form windows.
Tower

West tower in ashlar on exterior, all 1871, with 'Y-bar' tracery belfry openings. Interior fabric a mix of brick, ashlar, and rubble stone.

Timbers and roofs

  Nave Chancel Tower
Main Flat plaster ceiling, apparently of 1812, timbers above comprise tie-beams with moulded King posts, raking braces, and Queen posts. All 1812. Painted fine arched timbers and plaster probably of 1871. Single tie beam and rafters with wide cross planking above.All probably 1871. Later trapdoor to exterior.
S.Aisle n/a Organ chamber: simple rafters and plaster lean-to arrangement. Probably 1871 or later. n/a
N.Aisle n/a North chapel: tie beam and flat plaster ceiling. Timbers concealed above. All 1871 or later. n/a
Other principal     Ground floor of tower has a flat plaster ceiling.
Other timbers      

Bellframe

Timber frame. Elphick 'Z' form Pickford 'Group 6A' but with Pickford 'Group 6Q' variant in part. Probably all of 1871.

Not scheduled for preservation, Grade 4.

Walls

  Nave Chancel Tower
Plaster covering & date Plastered, and painted. Plaster perhaps 1812 original. Plastered, and painted. Plaster perhaps 1871 original. Flat plastered walls. Probably 1871 or later.
Potential for wall paintings Low. Stencil work may potentially survive below later repainting but unlikely. Low. Stencil work may potentially survive below later repainting but unlikely. Nil but earlier colourwash possible below present painted finish.

Excavations and potential for survival of below-ground archaeology

No known archaeological excavation has been undertaken at this church, although when the churchyard was extended in 1844 the remains of a supposed C11th church were found.

The fabric of the nave dates from 1811-12 when the earlier church was demolished and the present building erected, and the chancel, N.chapel and tower were added in 1871. It is probable that the earlier church lay on the same site as the present building. It is expected that the main stratigraphy will date from 1811-12 and 1871, with evidence of demolition layers from the earlier building. It is possible that medieval stratigraphy may survive at lower levels, although the extent is unknown. A C12th church stood on this site and evidence from this building may be extant, though it's survival is unlikley to be in more than fragmentary form. The fabric of the nave may contain material anecdotally reported as having been reused from the earlier church.

The churchyard is rectangular and was extended from the orignal in 1844 and again in 1869. The church lies offset to the south end of the site. Anecdotal evidence indicates archaeological features were discovered during the 1844 extension in the form of a medieval building.

The overall potential for the survival of below-ground archaeology in the churchyard, is considered to be MODERATE, comprising mainly burials of varying dates within the original churchyard and two extensions, paths, but with unknown evidence from the earlier church and features found in 1844. Below the present interior floors of the nave and chancel it is considered to be LOW being principally stratigraphy from the 1812 and 1871 rebuilds, although there is an UNKNOWN potential for earlier stratigraphy from the medieval church at lower depths.

Exterior:Burial numbers expected to be average. Deposits around the church may contain evidence of the 1811-12 and 1871constructions.

Interior:Stratigraphy under the nave and chancel is likely to comprise, almost exclusively, 1811-12 and 1871 deposits, except perhaps at lower levels where remnant medieval layers may survive.