Details
TL 5050 BABRAHAM HIGH STREET
(North-West Side)
8/46 Parish Church of
22.11.67 St Peter,
south-west of
Babraham Hall
GV I
Parish Church. West tower c.1200, chancel early C13, nave and north and
south aisles mid C15, south porch mid C15, clerestory and north porch C16.
Restoration of the tower, early C17, by enclosing east wall and building two
buttresses projecting into the nave. Restorations 1770-4 rebuilding of nave
roof by Robert Jones and in late C19 possibly by J.T. Michlethwaite, north
aisle windows dated 1899. Walls of flint rubble with clunch and Barnack
limestone dressings. Slate roofs with pantiled chancel roof.
South Elevation: West tower unbuttressed of three stages with clunch bands,
limestone quoins and embattled parapet. One quatrefoiled-light and one
two-light belfry window. Four two-light clerestory windows with square
headed labels. C19 panelled buttresses to south aisle and three, restored,
three-light windows. South porch largely rebuilt with C15 two-centred arch
with semi octagonal responds. Chancel unbuttressed with west window of two
transomed trefoiled-lights with quatrefoil in plate tracery in two-centred
arch; east window C15 restored of three cinque-foiled lights, (blocked
lancet windows in east and north walls), priest's doorway with chamfered
two-centre arch, between the windows. Interior: Nave arcades each of four
bays mid C15, two-centred arches of two orders with continuous double ogee
moulded outer order, with semi octagonal responds with moulded capitals and
bases. Chancel arch mid to late C13 two-centred of two chamfered orders with
moulded labels on both sides, semi octagonal responds with moulded capitals
and abaci continuous to side walls. Large trefoiled C13 niche with shafted
capitals to west wall. Mutilated sedilia and piscina. Hinges for shutters
to south window. Aumbry in north wall divided in two. Reredos of bolection
moulded panelling with cornice and pediment, angel heads over side panels and
cartouche in pediment with painted inscription 'Dua Juditha Levini Benet Bar
Vidva una cum Juditha utrius filia Deco et Ecclesiae obtulere 1700', panels
painted with Creed, Commandments, Lords Prayer and quotations in small panels
above. Font, octagonal bowl on octagonal pedestal with chamfered base
c.1200, font cover with crocketed ribs and moulded flat-topped finial. Pews,
C15, pulpit and two decker reading desk. Fragments of C14 glass in north
window of chancel; modern memorial glass by John Piper in east window.
Monuments: Table tomb in chancel with black marble slab with inscription to
Thomas Feltham 1631. Wall monuments in chancel; white marble tablet with
urn and drapery to Katharine Judith wife of Henry John Adeane 1825, white
marble pedimented tablet to Robert Jones Adeane and his wife 1823, 1842,
neo-gothic monument with inscriptions to General James Whorwood Adeane of
Babraham and Chalgrove 1802 and to Anne his wife 1832. Table tomb in south
aisle by J. Bushnell (d.1701), black and white marble with inscribed front
panel 'Here lie buried Richard and Thomas Benet two brothers and both of them
Baronetts. They lived together and were brought up together at Schoole, at
the university and at Inns of Court. They married two sisters the Daughters
and Heirs of Levinus Munch Esq. 1658, 1667'. On the tomb are two life size
figures with a circular plaque in a wreath between them, behind and to the
full height of the figures black marble drapery. Wall monuments in south
aisle; white marble plaque flanked by Corinthian columns and flowered apron
with two putti supporting a cartouche to Judith Benet 1713, white marble
tablet to John Henry Adeane and his wife 1847, 1850. C20 tablet in memory of
John Hallier, Vicar of Babraham burnt in Cambridge during the Marian
persecution 1556, Floor slab in chancel to Gulielmus Cole died XI Jan
MDCCXXXIIII Actat LXIII, father of William Cole. Four hatchments in north
and south aisles bearing the Adeane arms. Brass indent for small figure
C15. Broken fragment of coffin in south porch with raised cross.
R.C.H.M. Report 1951
V.C.H., Vol. IV, p28
Pevsner. Buildings of England. p294
Gunnis. British Sculptors, p72
Listing NGR: TL5095950529
