Through the door to the right of the sanctuary are the ‘Zetland’ rooms, formed in 1989 from the old Chancel, Children’s Chapel and vestries during one of the recent extensive restorations. The construction of these rooms was a necessity as a structural survey of the chancel arch indicated a major weakness. This could best be solved by putting steel bracing across the arch at about 12 feet above ground level, hence creating a base for a floor at this point. It made sense to close off the arch and create the suite of rooms and facilities you see now.
Upstairs you can obtain a good view of the east window, installed in 1939 as a memorial to Sir William Turner, former Lord Mayor of London and founder of Sir William Turner’s grammar School (now part of Cleveland Tertiary College) and the Kirkleatham Alms Houses. As well as Christ (both crucified and reigning in glory) and Saints Peter, Nicholas and Bartholmew, it shows Sir William Turner in his Lord Mayor’s robes, holding a model of the first school (the present Kirkleatham Museum) with the almshouses behind.
The Oak panelling below the window was originally positioned below the Reredos and was also carved by ‘Mousey’ Thompson – again with a mouse. If you look up you can see a number of coats of arms, including the one for the former Borough of Redcar, inaugurated in St Peter’s in 1922.