St Peter's Church, Heysham, Lancashire
N 54° 02.835 W 002° 54.115
30U E 506422 N 5988783
St Peter's church in Heysham was founded in 967 AD and was mentioned in the Doomsday book of 1080 as a Saxon church. Some of which remains in the fabric of the present structure. The church has been rebuilt, extended and refurbished many times.
Waymark Code: WMCAJ7
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/16/2011
Views: 3
The church,
grade 1 listed, is built from local stone and the structure we see today is largely the result of 1864 rebuild. The stone artefacts outside the church are of great interest. Both the church and stone artefacts are listed structures.
Beside the path is a
stone coffin[ and the stumps of three crosses. The first, Lazarus stone, is flat sided and has been decorated with a picture of Lazarus coming out of a church, with a leaf motif around the edges. Further along the path is a cross shaft, less than 1.5 metre, but still erect, incomplete. The top has not been found. The url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-391840-sundial-shaft-approximately-18-metres-so]next stone shaft[/url] has been re-used as a sundial and leans at an angle. The date of 1696 on the head appears genuine. Finally the very short stump is circular and not much is known.
Inside the church is a hogs back coffin cover, ornately carved with a story.
There is a brass plaque in the wall near Main Street, dating the church.