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I Location

II General Description

St Peter's has a nave with N and S aisles of three bays. In each arcade the arches of the two W bays, and the westernmost pier and respond are 12thc. (the N stylistically earlier than the S); the eastern arch, pier 1 and the east respond belong to the later 13thc. The remodelling is visible on the outside too, with big ashlar blocks at clerestorey level at the west end and smaller, roughly-shaped blocks to the east. The clerestorey itself is 14thc. The chancel also belongs to the 13thc., and the nave aisles have been extended eastwards alongside it forming chapels; the S screened off as a vestry and the N walled off from the nave aisle. The N and S doorways are both protected by porches. The west tower has one 13thc. lancet, but is otherwise apparently of the early 14thc., with a Perpendicular parapet. 12thc. sculpture is found in the west bays of the arcades.

IV Interior Features

2. Arcades

c. Nave

(i) N arcade

Bays 2 and 3 are 12thc., with round-headed, unmoulded arches.

Pier 2: Cylindrical with a moulded drum base on a square plinth with chamfered corners. Three of the triangular chamfers are decorated. The NW has nested vees; the NE a series of grooves fanning out from the outer vertex; the SW similar fanning grooves, with rows of beading between the outer pair on each side. The capital is a multi-scallop with wedges between some of the scallops and a roll necking. Its abacus is square in plan, to fit the square impost block, which has a plain quirked chamfer.

W respond: Plain and square with a plain quirked chamfered impost block.

(ii) S arcade

Bays 2 and 3 are 12thc., with round-headed arches of two orders to each face.

Pier 2: Cylindrical with a moulded drum base on a square plinth with plain chamfered corners. The capital has a 'green man' at each angle; a human mask with almond-shaped bulging eyes, cap-like hair, small nose and open mouth. From each side of the mouth issues a stem terminating in a furled leaf, and these leaves form a mirror pair on each face of the capital. The abacus is square and the impost quirked hollow chamfered.

VII History

In 1086 Eustace held 1 hide and 2½ virgates by force, to the detriment of the Church of Ramsey, a similar sized holding was in the hands of Ralph, who held it from Guy de Raimbeaucourt, and Walkelin held 3 virgates from the Bishop of Coutances. No church was noted.

Benefice of Isham with Pytchley.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The 12thc. parts of the S arcade are stylistically later than the N. Not so much in the capital forms, which could easily be contemporary, as in the change from one-order to two-order arches and from chamfered to hollow-chamfered imposts.

IX Bibliography