Description

PADSTOW CHURCH STREET (south side), Padstow
SW 9075-9175
8/35 Church of St Petroc
24.4.53

GV I

Parish church. Dedicated to St Petroc. Circa C12 origins surviving in west tower
and possibly chancel. Restored in circa 1855 and 1888-9 by S.D. Sedding.
Stone rubble with moulded plinth. Stepped buttresses. Slate roof with gable ends
with lower roof to chancel and chapels at east end of north and south aisles.
Plan: Church rebuilt in early C12 with remains surviving in lower stage of tower and
possibly east wall of chancel. Church considerably rebuilt in C15 when 7 bay north
and south aisles were added and the west tower was raised to 3 stages. South porch
rebuilt in C19 reusing circa C15 dressed stone. In 1888-9 the chancel was restored
and the nave pews were reduced in height. A photograph depicting the church prior to
this restoration hangs on the south wall.
Exterior: West tower of 3 stages with set back angle buttresses and battlemented
parapet. No west door. 3-light Perpendicular belfry openings with slate louvres
Directly to west of tower, wall enclosing entrance to Prideaux family vault (qv
Prideaux Place) with reset medieval cross taken from grounds of Prideaux Place and
erected in memory of Charles Prideaux-Brune in 1833. Impressive 5-light
Perpendicular chancel windows. Perpendicular windows to north and south aisle in
Catacleuse stone, partly restored in the C19. Carved figures on buttresses at east
end of south aisle with heraldic devices. Fine quality, circa late C17 raised and
fielded panelled doors to north and south opposing entrances.
Interior: Ceiled waggon roof to nave of fine quality with moulded ribs. C15 waggon
roofs to north and south aisles, particulary complete to south aisle with carved
corbelled angels at east end. Chancel roof replaced in C19. 2 centred tower arch of
C12 or C13. 7-bay tall lofty arcades to north and south aisles. The 2 eastern bays
lower; type A (Pevsner) piers in limestone.
Circa early C19 pews reduced in height in 1888-9 restoration. 2 C15 bench ends in
chancel. Catacleuse stone font, possibly C15, of table-top type with 12 apostles
carved on the 4 faces of the bowl; four octagonal piers at corners and central round
shaft. Pulpit possibly C16 restored in C19 with finely carved C16 panels. Rood loft
stairs. Creed and Commandment boards in chancel.
Memorials of fine quality including that of Sir Nicholas Prideaux 1627. Brass of L.
Merther, 1421.
Hosking, C and Boxall, M Church of St Petroc at Padstow. 1986
Pesvner, N and Radcliffe, E The Buildings of England, Cornwall. 2nd edition, 1970.

Listing NGR: SW9157875412

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17529476

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

• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)