Church of St Peter, Sible Hedingham (EHER 6834)

Parish church, aisled nave, chancel, west tower, and south porch. Mainly 14th century, west tower rebuilt in the 16th century, 16th century south porch, much 19th century restoration. Flint rubble with some Roman tile. Limestone and clunch dressings.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 6834, 6835, 6836, and 29135. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: St Peter's Church (NAT). <1> Parish Church of St Peter stands in the village. The church walls are of flint and pebble rubble and some Roman tile. The dressings are of limestone and clunch, the roofs are covered with tiles and lead. The whole church was built about the middle of the 14th century. The earliest parts, of about 1340, are the chancel, north vestry and a west tower. The nave south aisle was built in about 1340, the north aisle in about 1370. The west tower was almost completely rebuilt in the early 16th century, re-using old material. The south porch was added at this time. Features and fittings include: windows of various 14th century dates, also late 15th to early 16th century, 16th century; 14th century doorways; early 16th century roofs of the south aisle and south porch, with moulded and carved timbers; two medieval bells (one probably of about 1400, one 15th century); a much defaced indent in the chancel; one early 16th century door in the doorway of the stair turret in the tower; the font may be 15th century; 14th century glass; two piscinae (one probably 15th century, the other probably late 14th century); monument in south aisle tomb recess, said to be cenotaph of Sir John Hawkwood, d. 1394). The church was extensively restored late in the 19th century. Features and fittings include: rafters in the north aisle roof may be 17th century; the south aisle has a mostly 'modern' embattled parapet with a late 16th century moulded brick string course; one bell is of 1616; the clock bell may be 17th century; there are late 17th century chairs; one probably 17th century door 17th and 18th century floor slabs; 17th century panelling incorporated in a pew in the south aisle; Royal Arms of William III over the south doorway. <2> Except for the west tower a church dating from about 1330-40. The window tracery is typical and not of special interest. Chancel east window is 19th century; tower west window is of about 1330-40, though tower itself is early 16th century. Clerestory windows not original though the back splays indicate that their form may be correct. The most interesting feature of the church is the monument in the south aisle. This is a tomb-chest, considered to be a cenotaph for Sir John Hawkwood, d. 1394, who, the son of a tanner at Sible Hedingham, rose to be a condottiere of the Florentine army and the son-in-law of a Duke of Milan. He is buried in Florence Cathedral. Restored in the 19th century, chancel east window was made then. <3> Church of St Peter. Parish Church. Mainly 14th century with tower rebuilt in the 16th century, the south porch is also 16th century. Some Roman tiles in the walls. Much restoration in the last century. Late 15th to early 16th century south porch roof with moulded beams, carved bosses. 14th century reset doorway in tower with 14th century moulded stone panel above - at one time this enclosed a carved bird, possibly for Hawkwood. Similar panel in south wall. Hammerbeam roof over chancel (possibly medieval?, 14th century north vestry doorway with horizontal boarded door. Nave roof hammerbeam, similar to chancel roof. South aisle roof early 16th century, richly moulded and carved. Font stem may be 15th century. 14th century reset doorway to stair turret in tower. Much 19th century restoration. 19th to 20th century windows, doorways; door 17th century nail-studded door in the west doorway of the tower; 19th to 20th century glass; 17th and 18th century floor slabs; north aisle roof has 17th century rafters; 19th to 20th century font with possibly 15th century stem. <4> Morant implies that the foundations of a smaller and earlier church have been exposed at some time, a chance to investigate was lost when parts of the aisles were refloored. The finest feature is the west end of the south aisle roof. Graded BIIa by Rodwell. Site Assessment = According to this source, "not a first rate building", "there are some good 18th century monuments in the churchyard which need protection against the encroachment of 'tidiness', which is already well established". <5> <6> Roman roof tiles and bricks built into the walls of the church and tower. Several flanged tile pieces also visible. <7> <8> See also: <9> - <11>