Radford St PeterArchaeology
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
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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 |
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Ground floor of tower has a flat plaster ceiling. |
Other timbers |
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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.
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