Description

SS 53 NW ASHFORD ASHFORD

8/3 Church of St Peter
-
25.2.65
- II*

Parish Church, incorporating mediaeval furnishings and fabric to base of
tower, but tower rebuilt 1798 according to plaque on north wall with inscription.
"This Tower was Built at the Expense of the Parish in the year 1798". Remainder
entirely rebuilt 1854 with chancel and south porch completed in late 1850s/early
1860s. Stone rubble, the tower, south wall of nave and south porch being variously
roughly coursed. Slate roofs with coped gable ends with apex gablets. Crocketted
ridge tiles to nave, chancel and north aisle, all partly damaged. Nave with south
porch, chancel, north aisle and adjoining transeptal tower of 2 stages with C19
broach spire slated with 2 bands of fish scales. 2 figured bell openings with
louvres in second stage to east and west only. Pointed arched doorway on east side
reached by external dog-leg stone steps. C19 Decorated style fenestration except
window openings on south side which are square-headed and have label moulds with
returned ends, that to right of porch having grotesque heads as stops. Vestry has
2 single-light windows with shouldered heads in north wall, doorway with shouldered
head in east wall, and tall slender stack in ashlar with gablet hood. Plain
unmounded pointed arch to south porch and ambitious south doorway in Moorish style
with shaped wooden surround and matching plank door. Short angle buttress to south
west corner of nave.
Interior Arcade of 2 bays with plain pointed arches. Lower pointed arches to west
and south sides of tower. Nave roof has C19 arched collars and windbraces. Tiled
reredos dado with commandment communion table. Bishops chair to right also uses
C17 carved panels. Ornately carved dado panelling to 3 sides of vestry and part of
frieze on north wall. Reset boss carved in shape of human head also on north wall
and small cusped stone panel with mutilated figure of St John in relief probably
C14 on fireplace mantel. Reused C16 bench panels in pulpit. Ornately carved bench
ends and pews in nave and north aisle transept variously incorporating C16, C17 and
C19 timber. 2 possibly reset 'poppy heads' on octagonal posts: In north transept
there is also a single box pew and dado panelling of C16 and C17 with C19
insertions. Diamond leaded panes with fleur-de-lis and other foliated devices in
each pane and marginal glazing bars in all the windows except the plainer 3-light
window. Chancel window and east window have C19 stained glass. Undecorated lead-
lined font of a square bowl with chamfered corners on round column and square base,
probably late Norman.

Listing NGR: SS5335035357

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17531905

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
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  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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