| St Peter's Church is one of two churches in Bywell, both with Anglo-Saxon origins. It originally belonged to the Benedictine monastery of Durham and was the location of Bishop Egbert's consecration as 12th Bishop of Lindisfarne in AD803. The oldest parts of the church are the north wall of the nave and the western parts of the chancel walls. The present chancel was built at the beginning of the 13th century, but the church is reported to have been burnt down in 1285. It was rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries and restored in the 19th century. The Anglo-Saxon church is thought to have been a major building with a nave over 19m long. The 13th century tower is built on and partly within the original nave and overlies some Anglo-Saxon foundations. Built into the walls of the church are many Roman stones which has in part lead to the suggestion that the church may stand on a Roman site. Excavations in 1995 discovered the massive foundations of the Saxon chancel. This is a Grade I Listed Building protected by law. See also:
Source of Reference
Local History of Bywell
Location of this site on a map, with option to view historical maps. Please note this link will open a new window. To return to this page please close the new window.
The Past Perfect web site for an example of a medieval castle (Wark). | |
