Building record 1663/1/1 - Church of St. Peter & St. Paul

13th and 14th century, restored 1912-14 and later. Coursed squared limestone and ironstone, ironstone dressings, lead and copper roofs. Chancel, north and south chancel chapels, nave, north and south aisles, south porch, west tower. 13th century crosshead and base of cross.

{1}Church. C13 and C14, restored 1912-14 and later. Coursed squared limestone and ironstone, ironstone dressings, lead and copper roofs. Chancel, north and south chancel chapels, nave, north and south aisles, south porch, west tower. 2-bay chancel has 4-light Perpendicular east window. 3-light Perpendicular window to south with 4-centred head, and 3-light window at high level to north, with straight head and foiled ogee-arched heads to lights. Chapels continue aisles and overlap chancel and have 2-light east windows with cusped Y-tracery. Fine 3-light window to north with Curvilinear tracery, 4-light round-arched window to south with pointed trefoil-headed lights and lancet window to south-east. Nave has clerestory of round quatrefoil windows except for 4-light hollow-chamfered stone mullion window to south-east. North aisle has 2-light window, 2-light window to north with Decorated tracery to quatrefoil to head, and 2-light window to west end with foiled Y-tracery. Double wave-moulded doorway. South aisle has 2-light window to south with cusped Y-tracery and 1-light round trefoil-headed window to west. Single-stepped south door with one order of shafts in gabled porch with double-chamfered doorway and small 1-light windows east and west with rectangular chamfered stone surrounds. 3-stage west tower has old plank west door with pegged wood surround. Lancet window above and small lancets to middle stage. 2-light bell-chamber openings with cusped Y-tracery. Offset angle buttresses, plain stone-coped parapet to north and south, saddleback roof with stone-coped gables and 2-light bell-openings east and west with quatrefoils to heads. Chancel has aumbry with old plank door and fine U-shaped hinges. Piscina and sedilia with ogee-arched heads. Black and white chequered stone paving to sanctuary. Double-chamfered chancel arch and arches to chapels north and south with polygonal responds. Chapels each have a piscina with pointed roll-moulded arches and hood moulds and image brackets either side of east windows. South chapel has ogee-arched tomb recess with crocketed hood mould. Nave has 4-bay arcades with complex piers of four triple shafts to circular core, moulded capitals and double-chamfered arches. C18 texts in cartouches painted on plastered and whitewashed walls. Norman font with round arched bowl. Polygonal pulpit dated 1579 with C18 brass candle holders. C18 communion table in nave with elongated volute legs. C18 Commandment, Creed and Lords Prayer boards in tower. Rare C13 cross head with crucifixus, carved heads and stiff-leaf decoration. Old crown glass quarries. One small painted glass quarry in south-east chancel window with scallop of St. James. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, 1973, p.390).

{3} The church of St Peter and St Paul at Rothersthopre has 13thc work as its earliest feature. This church was extended c1300, and in the 15thc further alterations were made. Little reparation was undertaken
until 1910-12 when there were extensive alterations.
In the churchyard there is the base of a cross consisting of a square socket stone with chamfered edges containing a small portion of the shaft.

{5} Description of the head of a Norman cross now situated in the church.

{7} Sywell Aviation Museum "have erected a memorial to the crew of the Wellington bomber which crashed at Rothersthorpe at SP714565. It stands in Rothersthorpe church (which the aircraft just missed!!) and consists of a prop blade which we rescued from the site, with the National Flags of the crew members on either side."

{8} Four undated photo, also two photos dated 09.12.1993;

{10} A possible medieval churchyard cross was found in 1869 whilst pulling down a barn in Rothersthorpe. Drawings were made. The cross is now in the church. A possible medieval cross base has been found in the churchyard. Drawings have been made. This may be part of the same cross. Drawings and measurements of cross and base;

{11} In pulling down an old barn in the village in 1869 the head of a cross was found, which was placed in the parish church in c1890. The cross, 2'9" high, is of 13thc date.

{12} The cross base, socket stone only, is situated at SP 7143656617. See photograph. The head of the cross is in very good condition. See photograph.

{13} The remains of the cross consisting of a socket stone and a portion of the shaft were situated within the churchyard and the cross head, which was found during the demolition of a barn in 1869, was placed in the church late in the 19th century.

No trace of the remains of the cross can be found in the churchyard which has been cleared and turfed. It is possible that the socket stone and shaft have been placed inside the church with the cross head.

In the circumstances there can be no proposal to schedule.

{15} Drawings and measurements of font, newspaper cutting, other drawings, measurements and sketches, rubbings, plans;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/167 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F09 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 286, 288 (Series). SNN10247.

<4> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> Romilley Allen J., 1889, Sculpture of the Norman and Transitional Periods in Northamptonshire, (checked) (Article). SNN108376.

<6> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<7> Armishaw A., 1999, CORRESPONDENCE, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN44352.

<8> Photographs of buildings in Rothersthorpe (Photographs). SNN113127.

<9> PRETTY E., 1847, Proceedings of The Association, 1846, p.1-10 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN13366.

<10> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/231/1-6 (Archive). SNN115.

<11> Vallance, A, 1920, Old Crosses and Lychgates (Book). SNN115252.

<12> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 04-MAR-1969 (Note). SNN111452.

<13> English Heritage Alternative Action Report, Went, C. 11-FEB-1997 (Report). SNN113037.

<14> Historic England, St Peter and St Pauls Church, Rothersthorpe, BF107399 (Archive). SNN115253.

<15> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/231/7-50,52-63 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Mar 20 2025 4:26PM