Details
LAMERTON LAMERTON
SX 47 NE
3/44
- Church of St Peter
21.3.67
GV II*
Parish church. Late C14/early C15, porch sundial dated 1695, tower west door dated
1806, 1841 restored by Foster of Plymouth (DNCCP), church restored 1876 at cost of
£1300, "the old barrel ceiling was removed and the oak beams of the chancel thrown
open", new organ of 1876, 1877 church destroyed by fire, "the tower alone being
saved" rebuilt after 1877. Mixed slatestone coursed rubble, squared granite porch,
granite dressings, slate roofs with raised coped verges, crestings and cross finials.
West tower, nave, north and south aisles, south porch, chancel. Mainly Perpendicular
style of rebuilding. 3-stage tower has weathered diagonal buttresses, plinth
moulded string courses, north east polygonal stair tower with lancets, embattled
parapet over all with C19 crocketted pinnacles. West door with 2-centred arch
chamfered and hollow-chamfered surround, hood-mould and relieving arch, C19 door with
strap hinges, date 1806 and initials IL carved on jamb, 3-light pointed arched window
above with cusped heads, hood-mould and relieving arch, second relieving arch above
from former 2-light square-headed bell-opening with chamfered mullion, slate louvres
and relieving arch. 5-bay north aisle has 4-light Perpendicular window to each bay
with 4-centred arched heads, 2 central lights taller, cusped heads and hood-mould,
weathered buttresses with undercut mouldings to set-offs, door to west with roll-
moulded architrave, hood-mould with square-cut carved stops, door recessed with
foliage in spandrels of 4-centred arch, plinth; to east, a 4-light window with Y-
tracery, hood-mould and lancet above, polygonal stack. 5-bay south aisle has 4
similar windows to left, window to right of early construction, finer moulding to
tracery, of 3 lights with taller central light, cusped heads and hood-mould, ogee-
head priest's door below with hollow-chamfered and pyramid stopped surround; 4-light
east window and lancet as on north aisle, similar 4-light west window and plinth.
Gable porch in south west bay of south spandrels, square hood-mould with quatrefoils
on stops, slate sundial with gnomon above, wrought iron gates; interior of porch has
pitched slate floor, similar inner door opening, C19 door with strap hinges, no hood-
mould, roof of principal rafters, arched braces, collars, collar purlin and wall
plate. Chancel has 5-light east window with lattice transom, panel tracery and
through reticulation, cusped heads, hood-mould and lancet above, plinth.
Interior tower has deep splayed reveal to west window, ceiling in 9 panels, central
one larger, floor as in porch, stone newel stair, Whitechapel bellframe and bells by
John Warner and Son, London; pointed arched chamfered surround to C19 stair door with
strap hinges, tall pointed tower arch with impost moulding. Nave have 6-bay arcade,
some redressed shafts remaining, 4-centred arches with Pevsner.A-type piers with
shaft rings to capitals and bases, 14-bay wagon roof extended over chancel with
principal rafters, arched-braces, one row of purlings, collar and moulded collar
purlin, wall plate and carved wooden bosses at intersections. North aisle has
similar 12-bay roof, 4-centred arched chamfered surround to north door, deep roll-
moulding to surrounds of windows, east end used as organ chamber and vestry; south
aisle has similar roof, flat head to priest's door. Chancel has 2 sedilia and
piscina to south east with ogee hood, cusped openings, finials and crocketed
pinnacles, much restored limestone; C19 tiled reredos.
Fittings: C19 pews and pulpit; carved wood painted Royal Arms of George III in north
aisle; organ by J.W. Walker and Sons, London, 1880; C19 octagonal granite font in
nave with octagonal stem and carved sides. Monuments in north aisle: stone tablet
with draped urn, to John Bennett, 1822, by J. Hooper of Plymouth; marble tablet to
William Weeks, 1829, by Bovey and Co, Plymouth; stone monument with demi-figures of
man and wife in 2 recessed niches with broken scrolled pediment and shield over,
inscription panel with verse, scrolls and shield below, to Hugh Fortescue, 1650 and
his wife Elizabeth. In south aisle: oval stone table to Arthur Tremayne, 1808;
marble tablet to Rev. William Cowlard, 1844, by Bovey and Co; Tremayne family
monument, dated 1588 and rebuilt by Arthur Tremayne, 1707, has marble Corinthian
columns on plinths with Tremayne shields, inscription panel below with large shield
to each side, plinth with 5 figures, 2 in armour and 3 civilians, 3 panels above with
verses on Tremayne family, border with carved foliage and flowers, surmounted by
segmental pediment with heads of putti, flowers and shields in tympanum, 2 reclining
angels with trumpets gilded bove and shields. Chancel east window and 2 windows in
north aisle have stained glass with late C19 scenes from the life of Christ.
(Sources: Pevsner, N.: Buildings of England: South Devon 1952. White: History,
Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Devon 1878-9. Devon Nineteenth Century
Churches Project).
Listing NGR: SX4510577075
