Village History
The history of this parish has been recorded in a booklet published in 1985
entitled Hayton 1762 - 1914 “A portrait of a north nottinghamshire country parish from enclosure
to the Great War”. It was researched and written by Dr Rosemary E. Anderson who left Hayton in
2006. Information from the booklet is included on this website with her permission and with much
gratitude from the Parish Council.
The following passage is taken from ber booklet and describes the origin of St
Peter’s Church, Hayton.
“The church would appear to have originally consisted of a Norman
stone built nave and chancel, dating from around 1120. A portion of this structure is still to
be found within the north wall of the nave. At the end of the twelfth century, the south aisle
was constructed, and the arcade, consisting of three round arches was built. The fine south
doorway is also of this late Norman period, but the splendid porch which shelters it was not
built until around 1400. According to Arthur Mee, it is a rare possession for a village church
in the quality of its workmanship, as it has a stone-ribbed roof, and is externally enriched
with pinnacles, at the foot of which are tiny sculptured heads of human folk and animals.
During the fourteenth century the chancel was pulled down and
rebuilt to include a three-light window, and at the same time the windows in the north wall of
the nave were added, and the south aisle rebuilt. The tower was constructed around 1400 and is
embattled, as are the nave and the south aisle. Since the 15th century when windows were
inserted in the south aisle, the church has not altered in external appearance, although it has
been extensively restored from time to time”.
