15. CALDECOTE (B.b.).
(O.S. 6 in. IX. N.W.)
Caldecote is a small parish, 7 m. S.W. of Peterborough. The church is the principal monument.
Ecclesiastical
(1). Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene
stands on the N. side of the parish. The walls are
of cornbrash-rubble and ashlar with dressings of
Barnack and Ketton stone; the roofs are covered
with slates. The church is of 12th-century origin
but little work of this period survives. The Chancel
except the W. wall was re-built in the second half of
the 13th century and the Nave in the 14th century.
The church was drastically restored and partly
re-built in 1874. The South Porch and North Vestry
are modern.
The Church, Plan
Architectural Description—The Chancel (20 ft.
by 16½ ft.) has a late 13th-century E. window of
three graduated lights under a two-centred rear-arch, restored externally except the moulded labels
and mask-stops; below the internal sill is a
moulded string-course continued along the side
walls. In the N. wall are two late 13th-century
lancet-windows, completely restored externally.
In the S. wall are two similar windows, not so
extensively restored and with moulded labels and
mask-stops; the western window is carried down
below a transom as a 'low-side', which is now
blocked. The round chancel-arch is modern
but the square responds are of the 12th-century
material, re-set and have scalloped capitals with
modern abaci.
The Nave (28 ft. by 19½ ft.) has in the N. wall
two partly restored 16th-century windows each
of two four-centred lights in a square head with a
moulded label and a two-centred rear-arch; further
E. is a modern doorway. In the S. wall are two
windows similar to those in the N. wall; the 14th-century S. doorway has wave-moulded jambs and
two-centred arch. In the W. wall is a two-light
window, all modern except the late 13th-century
quatrefoil in the spandrel and the adjoining parts of
the heads of the two pointed lights; the window is
set in a recess with a two-centred arch of one
continuous chamfered order; higher up in the wall
is a small window, all modern except the splays
and rear-arch. On the W. gable is a modern
bell-cote.
Fittings—Brackets: In chancel—on N. wall,
square moulded shelf on a triple shaft terminating
in a crude beast's head, 13th-century. In nave—
above chancel-arch, two, one a carved beast's head,
and the second moulded rectangular bracket,
16th-century. In porch—rough shaped bracket and
a bearded head, perhaps a label-stop, re-used, both
re-set. Chest: In vestry—front with three moulded
panels, two original lock-plates, early 17th-century.
Coffin-lid: In chancel—in window-recess, fragment with remains of omega ornament, 13th- or
14th-century. Font: octagonal, ogee-shaped bowl
set against a square pier, plain attached stem and
moulded base, 15th-century. Locker: In chancel—
in E. wall, rectangular, with rebated reveals,
probably 13th-century. Monuments: In N. wall of
vestry—(1) to Isaac Gregory, 1707, vicar of Peterborough, and Ann his wife, 1707, plain slab; in
churchyard—loose, E. of chancel, (2) to . . .
Stretch, 1662, head-stone. Piscina: In chancel—
double, with chamfered jambs and trefoiled heads,
free shaft with moulded capital and base between
the bays, moulded two-centred label with mask-stops common to both bays and with a fleur-de-lis
carved in the spandrel, sex-foiled drain in E. bay,
13th-century, sill of W. bay modern. Pulpit:
(Plate 152) of oak, pentagonal, each face with
two panels, lower plain and upper carved with
conventional foliage, on middle rail the date 1646,
top rail, stem, etc., modern. Table: In vestry—
with turned legs, carved top rail with shaped
braces, 17th-century. Miscellanea: In rectory
garden—13th-century moulded capital.
Condition—Good, much restored.
Secular
(2). Homestead Moat, 60 yards W. of the
church.
Monuments (3–5).
The following monuments are of the 17th
century and of two storeys, timber-framed and
plastered; the roofs are thatched. The interiors
have exposed timber-framing.
Condition—Poor.
(3). Cottage, 200 yards E.S.E. of the church.
(4). Cottage, 40 yards E. of (3), has been
refronted with modern brick.
(5). Cottage, 140 yards S.E. of (4).