ST PETERS CHURCH

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DESCRIPTION

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Mainly rebuilt in the 13th and 14th centuries, but with Saxon origins of the 7th or 8th centuries. There is clear evidence of Saxon work in the North wall of the nave and chancel, and the South chancel wall, and evidence of a former porticus adjoining the North wall of the nave/chancel junction. About the beginning of the 13th century the present chancel was erected. According to a statement in the Lanercost Chronicle the church was burnt in 1285. The tower was constructed c.1310 and a chantry chapel on the north side of the nave, also towards the
beginning of the 14th century. The chapel on the south side of the church was originally a chantry dedicated to St John the Baptist and was founded in the latter half of the 13th century. Plan of nave, West tower, South aisle, South porch, north-East chapel, chancel, North vestry and South chancel chapel. According to Symeon of Durham, Ecgberht was consecrated Bishop of Lindisfarne at Bywell in 803, which suggests that it was a monastic foundation.

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MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

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[NZ 0492 6142] St Peter's Church [TU]. (1)

St Peter's Church formerly belonged to the Benedictine monastery of
Durham.

The oldest portion is the north wall of the nave with its original
windows, which cannot be later than the end of the 11th century.

About the beginning of the 13th century the present chancel was erected. According to a statement in the Lanercost Chronicle the
church was burnt in 1285. The tower was constructed c.1310 and a
chantry chapel on the north side of the nave, also towards the
beginning of the 14th century. The chapel on the south side of the
church was originally a chantry dedicated to St John the Baptist and
was founded in the latter half of the 13th century. (2)

A pre-Norman church extended westwards to the limit of the tower
and its foundations are visible north and west. This end of the
church was destroyed in the fire of 1285 which devastated the village
of Bywell.

Roman stones are built into the walls of the church. The north
chantry, built about 1350 by Ralph de Nevill was the parish school
till 1849. The church was restored in 1848-9 and 1873; the chancel
in 1876. (3)

Church in use. (4)

Condition unchanged. (5)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1919-47

( 2) General reference

Northumb County History 6 1902 102-118 plan (Approx 1:250) illust (J C Hodgson)

( 3) General reference

Bywell and its Twin Churches 15th Edn 11-17 (Rev Cannon R E Holmes M.A. Vicar of Bywell St Peters 1930-48)

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 ASP 15-MAY-56

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F2 RWE 18-FEB-66

(6) by H M Taylor and Joan Taylor 1965 Anglo-Saxon architecture : volume 1

Page(s)122-6

(7) by David Knowles and R Neville Hadcock 1971 Medieval religious houses in England and Wales

Page(s)469

(8) Archaeologia Aeliana : or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity

24, 1946 Page(s)167-74

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