Preliminary assessment of a pair of wall paintings in the nave at the Church of St. Peter & St. Paul, Burgh le Marsh, Lincolnshire

Ss. Peter & Paul is a grade I listed building and therefore of exceptional interest. The church is planning re-roofing work to the nave and tower in 2017 along with a number of associated investigations. Further to this, Historic England requested a preliminary investigation of a pair of wall paintings (included in the listing notice) extant in the nave. Little, or no investigations have been carried on the paintings in the past and until this point have remained largely enigmatic. The wall paintings were assessed in terms of their: significance, conservation needs and opportunities, and recommendations for further research. An inspection of the paintings highlighted their fragile and parlous state, with a recommendation for immediate stabilisation by a suitably qualified and experienced conservator. Their heritage value and significance is assessed, along with condition and causes of deterioration. A hypothesis is presented suggesting these may be hatchments painted directly onto the wall plaster, potentially framing the entrance to a mortuary chapel (or similar) once housed in the south aisle