Details
TL 9273-9373,
5/8
BARDWELL,
CHURCH ROAD (East Side),
Church of SS Peter & Paul
14.07.55
I
Parish church. C15 west tower: rubble flint, on a chequerwork base of stone
and knapped flint. Four ashlar-faced buttresses, two diagonal. External stair
turret on the south side. The string-courses differ on each face: 4 on north,
3 on south, 5 on west. One 2-light window with cusped traceried head over west
doorway, and similar windows on all 4 faces of the top stage. Clock on the
south face. Small lead-covered spire. Six bells. Early C15 south porch in
knapped flint on a chequerwork base. Diagonal buttresses: battlements with
panels of flushwork. South face has flushwork panels, and three canopied niches
with mid-C19 statues. In the spandrels of the arch over the doorway are the
arms of Sir William de Bardewell (d.1434) and his wife. Two 2-light windows with
cusped traceried heads. The open timber roof, restored as a memorial in 1852,
has miniature hammer-beams with shields. Early C19 gault bricks on floor. Nave
in random flint, with remains of external stucco. Battlemented slate roof.
Range of 5 tall 2-light C14 windows with reticulated tracery. Fine single
hammer-beam roof in 12 short bays: the arched braces to the hammers
alternately long and short to fit over the windows. A carved pendant hangs
from the apex of each truss. Extensive remains of painting: trailing floral
designs, diagonal stripes, and simulated tracery in the spandrels of the arched
braces. Angel figures remain on only four hammer beams, one carrying an open book
with the date 1421. On north and south walls, traces of wall-paintings
uncovered during restoration in 1850's (see Procs. Suff. Inst. Arch. Vol.II,
for detailed, illustrated account). Mid C19 poppy-head benches: low Jacobean
panelling along walls. Plain octagonal C19 font: older font lying on floor
nearby. War memorial in blocked north doorway: arms of George II above. On
north wall, memorial to Bardwell men killed in Crimean War. Standing in north-
east corner, 4 finely traceried panels from C15 rood screen. The two windows
at the north-east end have medieval stained glass, including a portrait figure
of Sir William de Berdewell. Mid C19 timber pulpit. Narrow chancel arch, with
a squint on each side. In south east corner, a piscina, and door to rood
stair, with opening above. Chancel extensively restored in 1850's. Faced in
kidney flints: knapped flint and ashlar to buttresses. 3-light memorial east
window, 1863: stained glass by O'Connor. Arch-braced roof: high collars,
capitals with winged angels carrying a scroll, crown, musical instrument, etc.
Whitewashed stone reredos in Victorian Early English style. Various memorials:
on north wall to members of the Crofts and Reade families: on south wall, to
Thomas Read, 1658, and a large monument to John Read and his wife, with their
kneeling figures flanked by those of their 7 children, 1651/2.
Listing NGR: TL9410673620
This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 25 October 2017.
