Description

NORTH TAWTON ESSINGTON ROAD, North Tawton
SS 60 SE
13/92 Church of St Peter
22.2.67
GV I
Parish church. C13 and C15 with early C16 addition, restored in 1832 and/or 1842.
Walls of stone rubble and granite ashlar. Gable ended slate roof, wood shingle roof
to broach spire.
Plan: nave, chancel, north and south aisles, south porch and west tower. The tower
is the earliest part of the church, dating from the C13. The nave and north aisle
are C15 and the south aisle and porch were added in circa early C16. Chancel
rebuilt and enlarged in C19 - either 1832 or 1842 (sources differ), also in 1832
general restoration carried out including window tracery. In 1834 a fire in the
town spread to the Church spire which was considerably damaged and was rebuilt at a
lower height.
Exterior: squat unbuttressed west tower with broach spire. On its south side are 4
small lancets with pointed arch beads. Large granite west doorway with 4-centred
head and plain chamfer - probably a later insertion. Restored 3-light Perpendicular
West window. Single arched lancet belfry opening. Single storey battlemented
vestry, added in 1900, in angle between tower and north aisle. North aisle is of
ashlar with buttresses between the windows. Five 3-light Perpendicular windows all
with mullions renewed. Between the 2 westerly windows is a north doorway of moulded
granite with 4-centred head and arched hoodmould. Pointed head image niche above.
At east end of aisle is large 3-light restored Perpendicular window. Rebuilt
Chancel also of granite ashlar with 4-light Perpendicular style east window. South
aisle, also of ashlar, has 5 early C16 3-light granite mullion windows with
depressed 4-centred arch lights and straight heads with square hoodmoulds.
Buttresses in between windows. Small ogee-headed granite priests doorway below
eastern window of aisle. 1 storey gabled south porch has granite doorway with 4-
centred head, moulded on inside and out.
Interior: porch retains its wagon roof, partly restored, with moulded ribs and
carved bosses and wall-plates. Granite south doorway with 4-centred head, roll and
hollow moulding and deeply incised scroll stops. Probably contemporary heavy plank
door. Two 6-bay granite arcades to north and south aisles with 4-centred arches and
Pevsner A-type piers, their capitals differ slightly. No tower or chancel arches.
Internal walls are plastered. Late C15 or early C16 open wagon roofs with moulded
ribs, carved bosses and wall-plates. In the nave some late medieval carved bench
ends survive - one with the arms of the Champernowne family. Gallery at west end
has C18 stairs leading to it and some C18 panelling at the side but has been re-
fronted.
One late C18 wall memorial on north wall to members of Kellend family who died 1781-
5, it consists of a white marble plaque with black marble surround and urb above.
The only surviving medieval glass is in the head of the central north window and
depicts various angels holding coats of arms.
Sources: Beatrix Cresswell : Churches in the Deanery of Okehampton; Walter
Mortimer : The History of North Tawton.

Listing NGR: SS6644901729

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17527652

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

• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)