St Peter and St Paul, Bassingbourn

History of St Peter and St Paul

Listed Building:

Parish church. Early C13 tower survived till 1897 and was rebuilt in C14 style. Nave replaced in late C13 by nave arcades, north and south aisles and clerestorey added in c.1350. Chancel c.1330. South porch late C14 restored in C19, external turret to rood screen C15. Vestry built to north side of chancel c.1500 demolished c.1750.

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The Village Voice, February 2022, has an article on the two very old wooden ploughs that were stored in the Church tower for many years. It was common in medieval times to keep the village plough in a church. The two ploughs are now located elsewhere, one at Denny Abbey, the other at the Saffron Walden Museum.

The ploughs in questions are thought however to be much larger than those used for ordinary agricultural work and were possible used as drainage ploughs with a team of horses. A similar plough was kept in the church tower in Barrington but disappeared in 1872. (from Bassingbourn Ploughs by John Jenner)