Architectural Survey carried out in 1903 by Dr Peile
St Peters Church still has signs of a Norman Nave. According to Dr Peile, Master of Christs College, who made a careful study of the Church in 1903, the Norman Church consisted of a tower, a nave without aisles and probably a chancel of which no trace remains.
"I think," he writes, "that the Tower, with the exception of the battlements may be the original Norman Tower into which have been inserted the decorated door and window in the lowest storey and the perpendicular windows of the upper storey." He goes on to say that a far reaching restoration was caried out in the 15th Century, about 1420. The walls of the old Norman Nave were pierced for the addition of side aisles and heightened to provide the fine clerestory windows. Dr Peile adds: "The Tower now looks dwarfed in comparison with the enlarged and heightened nave and the lofty chancel." Before the extensive restoration carried out by the Rev Edmund Mortlock, the chancel floor stood at a great height above the floor of the nave and was reached by a flight of six steps; formerly having a crypt beneath, discovered about 100 years ago. The ancient Font stood at the West end before the Tower and the 16th century crocketted Font cover still remains. The fabric fell into serious decay.
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