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St Peter

St Peter

Portesham

Dorset

C12 remains in nave, C13 nave walls, west tower

Architectural Features

chancel, C14 refenestration (chancel), C15 refenestration (nave), C16 north

south aisles and south porch, C17 fenestration (nave), and tower doorway.

West Tower: 3 stages, with 2-stage angle buttresses to lower part C13.

C15 top stage, and newel stair in south-east corner.

West doorway, C17, with a chamfered 4-centred head with elliptical-headed window over.

Newel divided by weathered strings and parapet string with gargoyles.

Nave: remains of C12 walling in north wall and line of arcade springing from round pier with scalloped capital, C16 wall with C20 blocking between. c.C12 masonry in wall behind porch.

Nave mainly C13, south wall with C17 2-light window at west end,

2-light C15 window with 2 cinquefoiled ogee lights.

South Porch, C16 with a 2-centred entrance arch.

North and south aisles, each of 2 bays, C16, with windows of 3 cinquefoiled ogee lights in a square head with a label, ending in head stops.

North aisle west window, C17 with C20 blocking.

Chancel C13, with a doorway in the north wall with roll-moulded jambs and continuous trefoiled head.

C14 2-light window with quatrefoil in a pointed arch head, west of this.

Late C15 3-light east window with vertical tracery in a 2-centred head.

Two small blocked round-headed windows, C12, above chancel arch visible externally.

Interior: Tower- arch, pointed and of 2 chamfered orders, C13.

North and south arcades of 2 4-centred arches from a rectangular responded central pier, with mouldings and panelling, c.1500.

Chancel-arch, c.1500, pointed.

Fittings: Font, square tapered bowl with chamfered angles, circular stem, C13.

Pulpit: six sides of an octagon, panelled, C17 on C20 base.

Screen: timber, early C16, in 3 main bays with centre pair of doors.

Brackets: 17, of stone, C12

early C16.

South doorway, of double boarding with nail-studded battens, centrally hinged, C16.

Monuments, eighteen, mainly C17 and C18, see RCHM.

Piscina: in south aisle with chamfered 2-centred head, C13.

External Table-Tomb, south aisle, to William Weave, 1670, with panelled sides, ends carved with blank shields and scrollwork, inscription (renewed). (RCHM Dorset II, p.242 (1)).