St Peter's Church Heysham

St. Peter’s Church at Heysham has been altered and added-to many times over the centuries, but some elements of the structure seen today could date back to the 9th Century. There are good views across the bay from the old graveyard behind the church.

The church itself is a single storey, stone building without any tower. Like many in the seaside towns it looks as though it was built to withstand the elements rather than towering dramatically. St Peter’s is said to have been altered around the 12th Century and in 1864 a north aisle was added.

Within the church a rare example of a Hogback Tombstone can be seen with a good number of carvings that are said to represent both Christian and perhaps Norse mythologies; and is said to date to the early Christian times in England.

Having viewed the Hogback stone the human-like characters look suspicioulsy like “gingerbread men”, and one has a dog. Interestingly some of the animals are inverted. The larger animals at each end are said to be bears.

There is also what is said to be the capstone of the tomb of some unkown crusader, due to the symbolism on the stone itself.

Created: 15  September  2019  Edited: 29  November  2023