Mautby, Norfolk - St. Peter and St. Paul
St. Peter and St. Paul’s is a thatched church, as all early churches originally were. Mautby is well placed for thatching reed being close to the Norfolk Broads.
The nave and chancel are covered in one roof, and were built in the 13th. century, with a later aisle added on the south side.
The base of the 46 ft. (14 m) high tower is late Saxon/ early Norman and probably formed part of an older Saxon church. A lithograph by Robert Berney Ladbrooke in the 1850’s shows that there was a short pyramid roof on top of the tower, but in 1884 this was removed and replaced by a battlement parapet of brick faced with flints to match the tower. The tower houses only one bell, inscribed, 'Robs Batalie gaf me in the name of ye Trenite'. The bell, with a diameter of 36 ¼ in. (920 mm), was provided under the will of Sir Robert Batalie of Acle in 1491. Records show that in 1522 there were two bells.
The stair turret was added in the 15th. century. Above the tower arch at first floor level is a blocked door, this was the original access to that floor before the staircase was built. The arch into the tower is pointed which indicates that the tower was built in 13th. century.
Included in a 1884 restoration, by the minor architect Arthur Hewitt of Great Yarmouth, was the building of the entrance porch.
The font dates to between 1300 and 1375. It is decorated around the bowl with quatrefoils alternating with shields, which were probably painted at one time.
The tomb of the Knight Templar Sir Walter de Mauteby, who died in 1248, is near the lectern. His feet rest on a dog indicating that he died at home. A dog represents loyalty and would lead the decease to the next world.
Originally it was thought the tomb was defaced by Puritan zealots who also removed many brasses from the church, but a drawing of Sir Walter's effigy, dated 1839 by John Sell Cotman of the Norwich School, shows only partial defacement, so maybe the tomb was damaged when the south aisle was removed.
In “Sepulchral Monuments of the County of Norfolk” by Blomefield, the effigy is described as wearing a haubert (a piece of armour which covered only the neck and shoulders), and chausses (armour for the legs). This leg armour was from the ankle to the knees. He also had a hood of chain mail under which was probably worn a flat skull cap of plate. The armour is covered with a sleeveless surcoat that reaches to the knees. His shield was of the heater shape and it covered most of his body. His legs were crossed, as was the fashion at the time.
The most famous person associated with Mautby is Margaret Paston nee Mauteby, one of the writers of the medieval Paston Letters. When she died in 1484 she left written instructions that her body should be buried,
'In the ele of that church at Mawteby, byfore the ymage of Our Lady there, in which ele the bodies of divers myn auncestres, whose sowles God assoile'.
She was buried in the south aisle, however, this part of the church fell into disrepair in the 17th. or 18th. century and was demolished by the Victorians. Her remains, therefore, now lie outside of the church, but the exact place is not marked.
The church gained Grade: II* listed building status on 25th. September 1962. (English Heritage Legacy ID: 227781).
Mautby, Norfolk - St. Peter and St. Paul
St. Peter and St. Paul’s is a thatched church, as all early churches originally were. Mautby is well placed for thatching reed being close to the Norfolk Broads.
The nave and chancel are covered in one roof, and were built in the 13th. century, with a later aisle added on the south side.
The base of the 46 ft. (14 m) high tower is late Saxon/ early Norman and probably formed part of an older Saxon church. A lithograph by Robert Berney Ladbrooke in the 1850’s shows that there was a short pyramid roof on top of the tower, but in 1884 this was removed and replaced by a battlement parapet of brick faced with flints to match the tower. The tower houses only one bell, inscribed, 'Robs Batalie gaf me in the name of ye Trenite'. The bell, with a diameter of 36 ¼ in. (920 mm), was provided under the will of Sir Robert Batalie of Acle in 1491. Records show that in 1522 there were two bells.
The stair turret was added in the 15th. century. Above the tower arch at first floor level is a blocked door, this was the original access to that floor before the staircase was built. The arch into the tower is pointed which indicates that the tower was built in 13th. century.
Included in a 1884 restoration, by the minor architect Arthur Hewitt of Great Yarmouth, was the building of the entrance porch.
The font dates to between 1300 and 1375. It is decorated around the bowl with quatrefoils alternating with shields, which were probably painted at one time.
The tomb of the Knight Templar Sir Walter de Mauteby, who died in 1248, is near the lectern. His feet rest on a dog indicating that he died at home. A dog represents loyalty and would lead the decease to the next world.
Originally it was thought the tomb was defaced by Puritan zealots who also removed many brasses from the church, but a drawing of Sir Walter's effigy, dated 1839 by John Sell Cotman of the Norwich School, shows only partial defacement, so maybe the tomb was damaged when the south aisle was removed.
In “Sepulchral Monuments of the County of Norfolk” by Blomefield, the effigy is described as wearing a haubert (a piece of armour which covered only the neck and shoulders), and chausses (armour for the legs). This leg armour was from the ankle to the knees. He also had a hood of chain mail under which was probably worn a flat skull cap of plate. The armour is covered with a sleeveless surcoat that reaches to the knees. His shield was of the heater shape and it covered most of his body. His legs were crossed, as was the fashion at the time.
The most famous person associated with Mautby is Margaret Paston nee Mauteby, one of the writers of the medieval Paston Letters. When she died in 1484 she left written instructions that her body should be buried,
'In the ele of that church at Mawteby, byfore the ymage of Our Lady there, in which ele the bodies of divers myn auncestres, whose sowles God assoile'.
She was buried in the south aisle, however, this part of the church fell into disrepair in the 17th. or 18th. century and was demolished by the Victorians. Her remains, therefore, now lie outside of the church, but the exact place is not marked.
The church gained Grade: II* listed building status on 25th. September 1962. (English Heritage Legacy ID: 227781).