SP4987 : Church of St Peter, Claybrooke Parva
taken 8 years ago, near to Claybrooke Parva, Leicestershire, England
Definitely a church worth visiting if you are lucky enough to find it open.
The church consists of clerestoried nave with north and south aisles, chancel, west tower and north and south porches. There is no significant fabric remaining from the earlier church prior to the construction of the chancel in 1340. The remainder of the church is the result of further rebuildings between the late 14th and early 17th centuries, in Perpendicular style. The church serves the neighbouring villages of Claythorpe Magna and Ullesthorpe, although both are large enough to have warranted their own church.
The chancel is a very fine example of the curvilinear style of Decorated architecture, worthy of a larger church. Fortunately it has not been interfered with significantly by later generations. Other than the fact that the east window was blocked up at some time before 1810. The present window was inserted during the restoration of 1876-8 by the renowned Victorian church architect, G E Street. The nave and aisles were rebuilt in the late 14th century in Perpendicular style. The aisle arcades have distinctive piers in pink sandstone, the arches being of paler stone. The roof is contemporary with this rebuilding, and although restored by Street, much of the original carving was retained. There are several gargoyles around the exterior of this period.
The tower was rebuilt during the early 17th century, with datestones for 1614 and 1615 in the south face. The pinnacles have lozenge decorations typical of this period's Renaissance-led secular architecture.
The interior has little in the way of old fittings, other than the nave roof. Parts of a 15th century rood screen remain, and a pair of medieval bench ends have been incorporated in an information stand. Font and pulpit date from the 19th century restoration.
The church is Listed Grade I Link