Tuesday 8 November 2016

Woodston

Seemingly unloved and uncared for St Augustine is a distinctly underwhelming Victorian rebuild; it's also almost impossible to photograph. I wouldn't be surprised if this was teetering on the verge of redundancy. Obviously locked no keyholder.

ST AUGUSTINE. In the W tower is a recess on the W side, where Anglo-Saxon masonry is exposed and a small double-splayed window. The rest of the tower and the church are of 1844, 1884, and 1896, but the Norman twin bell-openings with a thick roll on the Peterborough example and the nutmeg frieze below are original. So is the S transept S window of three stepped lancet lights, i.e. c.1280-1300. Inside, the S arcade with octagonal piers is C14 work. - FONT. Late C13. Five supports, the four outer ones acting as knobs or spurs to the plain octagonal bowl. - PLATE. Cup and Cover Paten 1569-70; silver-gilt Bowl 1630-1; Paten on foot 1671-2; Flagon 1727-8.

Crucifix

WOODSTON. Peterborough has gathered it in its arms. Here lived Roman, Saxon, and Norman, and all have left something behind. Fragments of Roman huts were found here in 1910; and Peterborough Museum has bronze ornaments from two Saxon cemeteries here.

The church, which is of Saxon foundation, was much restored and enlarged last century, but it keeps a few old things, among them altar plate made by an Elizabethan craftsman and a 14th century font. In the tower are stones carved in the 12th century, four Norman windows, and one small window over the doorway, which is oldest of all, a fragment from the Saxon church the Normans made their own.

The name in Domesday is spelt Wodestun, probably referring to the pagan god Woden whose worship was widespread in the district.

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