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The discovery was made after large pieces of plaster covering the entrance started falling off the walls at St Peter’s in Knowstone, north of the regional capital, Exeter. It was found that a wooden hatch and stairs leading to a gallery or “rood loft” – where church leaders would have led services above worshippers.
In 1561, Queen Elizabeth I said all rood lofts should be banned because of the connection to Catholicism.
It meant officials at the Grade II listed church blocked-off the steps – which haven’t been seen since until now.
“It was a very big job to stabilise everything,” said Mr Howe.
As a result of the work on the steps and the wall, architect A J Bunning won the 2021 National Churches Trust King of Prussia Gold Medal for conservation and repair.
When the restoration won the award “we nearly fell off our chairs”, said Mr Howe.
“It was wonderful and we are very pleased to have done the work.”
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The awards, run by the National Churches Trust and the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association (EASA) were held at the church of St Mary Magdalene in Paddington, London on Thursday, November 4, 2021.
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The project centred around the discovery and then the restoration of wall paintings during routine repairs to an area of plasterwork.
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