St Peter and St Paul, Wisbech

History of St Peter and St Paul

Listed Building

The Church of St Peter and St Paul, Wisbech was constructed in the C12 and was substantially rebuilt in the C14. It has C15, C16 and C19 alterations, and is built from stone with Barnack limestone dressings and a lead roof.

Chest tomb in the churchyard to the south-east of St Peter and Paul Tomb with no inscription, possibly C15 with patterned walls and coped cover.

Chest tomb to John Baxter in the churchyard to south-east of St Peter and Paul. Inscribed “JOHN BAXTER / FOUNDER OF / “BAXTER CHARITY” / 1798.” Limestone with plinth and scalloped bases to pilasters.

Obelisk to Captain Shultz in the churchyard to south-west of St Peter and Paul.  Obelisk with rounded head and shield of arms on limestone plinth. Raised panel with inscription to Capt Shultz, R M d1854.

Chest tomb to Elizabeth 6/277 (ii) Stevens, 1837. In the churchyard to south-west of St Peter and Paul Limestone raised on stepped plinth, ball and chain feet, pyramidal shapted corner with stiff corner foliage decoration.

Chest tomb to Joseph Medworth 6/277 (i) in the churchyard to south-west of St Peter and Paul Inscription faint, b1754, d1827 Limestone with sunk panelled quoins and plinth.

Headstone, mid C18. Limestone. Architectural form of engaged Ionic columns with entablature and segmental pediment having a figure of the risen deceased in the tympanum. Below is an oval panel with inscription, now indecipherable, in bas-relief with, in the upper spandrels, a crown of honours and trumpet of victory and, in the tower spandrels, an hour glass and skull of mortality.

Headstone, c.1767, probably by Samuel Andrews of Wisbech. Limestone. Shaped head formed of C and S – leaf scrolls around a glory. Below is a panel with inscription and Gothic, Italic and Roman lettering and a border of bead and egg and dart moulding flanked by drops of fruit and leaf ornament.

Headstone, Henry Adams, 1740. Limestone. Architectural form of engaged Corinthian columns with entablature and shaped pediment with angel trumpeter and two winged cherubs heads. Below is a circular panel for the inscription with flowers and foliage to the upper spandrels and hour glass and skull to tower.

Headstone, a member of Adams family, 1742, and similar to (iii).

The photo shows Museum Square viewed from St Peter’s graveyard c1880. On the left is Castle Lodge, constructed from material salvaged from the demolition of Thurloe’s Castle.

St Peter and St Paul, Wisbech c1900

St Peter and St Paul, Wisbech c1900The south porch was once the home of the town library.