Building record MLI42101 - Church of St Peter and St Paul, Old Bolingbroke

Summary

Parish church built c.1360, possibly for John of Gaunt. The church was partially destroyed during the Civil War, restored in 1866 by James Fowler, and restored again in 1889.

Type and Period (1)

  • (Medieval to Modern - 1360 AD? to 2050 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

The Church of St Peter and St Paul was likely built by John of Gaunt around 1365-70. It retains a decorated nave which was originally the south aisle of a larger church. The north-west tower is Perpendicular. {1} The Church of St Peter and St Paul was built for the most part by John of Gaunt. It now consists of a north-west tower with a wide nave to the south without a separate chancel, and a narrow Victorian north aisle added by James Fowler in 1890. The north aisle replaced the nave and chancel previously attached to what was then a west tower. A south aisle was added by John of Gaunt, which is now the nave and chancel. The tower is Perpendicular with eight pinnacles by Fowler. A holy water stoup can be found on one side of the south doorway. The north arcade has four bays and sedilia. The church appears to be mainly Decorated at its height. However, if John of Gaunt is responsible, it must date to about 1365-70. {2} The church of St Peter and St Paul is built of greenstone rubble and limestone ashlar, with Westmorland slate roofs. The church was partially destroyed during the Civil War, restored in 1866 by James Fowler, and restored again in 1889. The tower is of three stages with an embattled parapet with eight pinnacles. The north aisle has a tall rectangular chimney. Internally, a 14th century four-bay nave arcade gives access to the new north aisle. The remains of a fireplace can be found in the tower, while the south wall of the nave contains sedilia and two piscinae. The font is 14th century and octagonal. For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. {3} A large quantity of decorative and heraldic stained glass within the church was described by Gervase Holles in the mid 17th century. No writer after Holles mentions the glass, however, and most if not all of the glass is thought to have been lost during the Civil War, when the former nave was demolished. Almost all of the current glass within the church is thought to date to the 19th century restorations, apart from a single fragment of 14th century glass set in a quatrefoil in the south window over the porch. {4}

Sources/Archives (4)

  •  Index: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Card Index. TF 36 NW: 12.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram. 1989. Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition). pp. 591-2.
  •  Index: Department of the Environment. 1988. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 1/30.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Penny Hebgin-Barnes. 1996. The Medieval Stained Glass of the County of Lincolnshire. p.230.

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred TF 34948 65136 (29m by 21m) Surveyed
Civil Parish BOLINGBROKE, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (0)

External Links (0)

Record last edited

Dec 6 2023 10:32AM

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