St Peter and St Paul's Church, Preston Deanery

The church originated in the 12th century, its tower, nave walls, and the west wall of the chancel remaining from that time. The chancel was extended in the 13th century, and at the same time a parapet and new windows were added to the tower. After the Reformation, the church became unused. In the 16th century it became a ruin, the bells and lead were sold, and it was partly demolished.

The chancel arch is Norman in style. It is completely rendered, other than the string courses between the tops of the piers and the bases of the arches. When the rendering was removed from the string courses by the Upper Nene Archaeological Society, it was discovered that they were decorated with carvings. The carvings include sawtooth patterns, lozenge motifs, and depictions of a snake and birds. It has been suggested that they are in Viking style, and were possibly re-used from a former churchyard cross. However this has been refuted by Kathryn Morrison who expresses the opinion that the carvings date from the late 11th or early 12th century, and that an earlier date is "impossible". She…