NHER 10500 (Building record) - St Peter and St Paul's Church, Burgh Castle

November 1954. Listed, Grade II*.
Listing Description excerpt:
"Parish church. Late 11th-century west tower. Nave and chancel retain 13th-century character but remodelled [in] 15th century. North aisle 1847. South porch 1857. Flint with ashlar dressings and some brick. Partly rendered. Slate roofs. Circular three-stage tower. Lancet west window. No ringing chamber windows but lancets to belfry with brick surrounds. Top of tower rebuilt in brick below crenellated parapet. Diagonal stepped western nave buttresses. Gabled porch with moulded entrance arch. Two two-light Perpendicular south nave windows flank a single lancet. Stepped buttresses to south flank. Lean-to north aisle pierced by two-light Perpendicular windows. Two three-light Perpendicular south chancel windows under square heads. North chancel partly obscured by gabled 19th-century vestry. Three-light Perpendicular east window. Diagonal stepped buttresses to east end. Interior. Tall chamfered tower arch. Three-bay north arcade of 14th-century style: tall plinths and piers formed of four lobes with hollows between. Wave moulded arches. Scissor braced nave roof with renewed timbers and decorated wall plate. Font reputed to be of 1387 but looks 15th century. Octagonal with four crouching lions against stem. Angels under bowl. Four lions and four shield-bearing angels alternate to bowl panels. Two high splayed windows over south door. Brick rood stairs, blocked at top. Wave, hollow and chamfered chancel arch with circular responds. Chancel has remains of one irregular wall arch to north and south, that to south interrupted to allow insertion of window. Bench sedilia and trefoiled piscina."
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current listing details.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 18 July 2022.

August 1996. Building Survey.
Examined by E. Rose (NLA).
Late Saxon or Norman round tower base and possibly parts of nave.
13th century widening of nave and raising of tower.
Perpendicular remodelling in at least two phases.
Top of tower, and former porch, 17th century.
North aisle, present porch, vestry and restoration mid 19th century.
Two stone coffin slabs.
19th century woodwork and stained glass.
Perpendicular font.
See report (S2) for further details.
E. Rose (NLA) 9 August 1996. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 25 October 2022.

Parson Thorne's Beam, which was originally part of the mid 19th century guildhouse of St Peter, is now kept in the church, see file for NHER 31892.

July 1999. Field Observation.
Re-examined by E. Rose (NLA) when tower clad in scaffolding for repairs.
The base consists of pebble flint with re-used Roman tile up to nave roof level, and may be Saxo-Norman. The second stage is of knapped flint with brick bell openings. It had previously been suggested that these are of Early English date but close examination has revealed mouldings of a later period fitting a bequest of 1387 for heightening of the church. Above the bell openings the tower is of brick which can now be seen to be of two periods - the lower of medieval (not re-used Roman) brick, and the upper of a later date, locally believed to be 1663 when the bells were replaced.
At the junction between the pebble flint and knapped flint sections, and at that between the two builds of brick, a number of curving voids were found in the thickness of the wall, connected to the interior by putlog holes and containing rotten wood. The void between the two builds of flint was outlined in part-glazed medieval pegtiles, and was believed by the architect for the repairs to extends round the full circumference. At the junction between the two builds of brickwork, however, the voids were of semi-circular plan and certainly did not join up. It has been suggested these were the locations of strengthening beams, but it seems somewhat of a coincidence that both sets should be located at a change of build. It is perhaps more likely that both represent a platform on which the new stage was added, an example of a similar technique being used on occaisions three centuries apart.
See record notes (S4) for further details. This work is also summarised in (S5).
D. Holburn (HES), 21 October 2011. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 25 October 2022.

September 1999. Casual Observation.
The architect for the 1999 restoration reports that during repairs to the tower a curving void was found just below the pebble flint section. This was lined with tiles and contained decayed wood. There were suggestions that it continued all the way round and four internal brick putlog holes appeared to connect with it. It is suggested that this may be another example of a curving wooden platform being used to add the next stage to the round tower. S. Heywood (NCC) does though prefers to see these as strengthening beams. The tiles were identified by A. Rogerson (NLA) as part-glazed medieval pegtiles.
Compiled by E. Rose (NLA). See file notes (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES) 25 October 2022.