Building record 767/1/1 - Church of St. Martin

Church built in the 13th century, with 14th and 15th century additions, restored in 1883, by Albert Hartshorne. Built of coursed ironstone rubble and coursed squared ironstone, with ironstone and limestone dressings, and lead roofs. The church consists of a chancel, nave, south aisle, south porch and west tower.

{1} Church. C13, C14, some work of C15; restored 1883, by Albert Hartshorne. Coursed ironstone rubble, coursed squared ironstone, ironstone and limestone dressings, lead roofs. Chancel, nave, south aisle, south porch and west tower. 2-bay chancel has 5-light Perpendicular east window with straight head, 3-light windows north and south with reticulated tracery and ogee-arched heads and 1-light low side windows north and south with cusped ogee-arched heads. Chamfered arched priest's door to south. Chamfered plinth, offset diagonal buttresses, offset buttresses between bays and chamfered string course at sill level, stepped over low-side windows and door as hood mould. Nave has 4-bay clerestory of quatrefoil windows, except for 2-light straight-headed window at east end either side which have ogee-arched lights; all in square chamfered stone surrounds. 3-light straight-headed windows to north side of nave with pointed trefoil heads to lights of middle window, reticulated tracery to those either side. Many-moulded north door with shafts to outer arch, moulded capitals and hood mould. Carved stone above with heads and ithyphallic figure. Offset buttresses between bays, offset diagonal buttress to east angle. South aisle has 3-light east window with intersecting tracery, a 2-light window with Y-tracery to south-east, and 2-light straight-headed windows with trefoil-headed lights to east of porch and at west end of aisle; lancet window to west side of porch. South door similar to north door in gabled porch with double-chamfered doorway, blocked windows north and south and obelisk finial to gable. 3-stage west tower has chamfered west door, cusped ogee-headed 1-light window above, polygonal stair turret to south, one-light window to middle stage north with cusped head and 2-light Decorated bell-chamber openings. Diagonal offset buttresses and battlemented parapet. Plain stone-coped parapets to rest of church. All windows and doors have hood moulds, except for clerestory and porch windows. Interior: chancel has ogee-arched piscina and trefoil-headed sedilia. Double-chamfered chancel arch with polygonal responds and moulded capitals. Nave has 4-bay double-chamfered south arcade with octagonal piers, polygonal responds and moulded capitals; part of round-arched head of former clerestory window now blocked. South or Foxley aisle has piscina with pointed trefoil head. Triple-chamfered tower arch, 2 outer arches dying into wall. Tie-beam roof to nave dated 1814. Plain round font with C17 octagonal pyramidal cover with ball finials. 7-sided C17 pulpit. One panelled box pew (hall pew), rest C19 incorporating cut-down box pew panelling. 3 hatchments, oil on canvas. Medieval stained glass to heads of 2 windows on north side. Shield in head of lancet window to south-west with symbol of Trinity, probably also medieval. C19 stained glass window to south aisle and tower; east window of 1889. Monuments: brass plate on plain slab in nave to Henry Boughton d.1614. Wall monument and alabaster effigy on tomb chest to Sir John Needham d.1618. Wall monument is dated 1633 and has gadrooned surround to inscription, flanked by columns, apron with cherub's head, vine trail frieze and cartouche of arms above, flanked by finials incorporating other smaller cartouches. Another inscription on tomb-chest where Sir John Needham is referred to as "GENTLEMAN PENSIONER UNTO THE LATE QUEENE/ELIZABETH OF HAPPIE MEMORIE AND AFTERWARD UNTO OUR LATE SOVERAIGNE LORD KING JAMES". Horizontal oval white marble wall monument to Thomas Grant d.1803. Wall monument to Edward Grant, d.1812, and Jane Grant, d.1811, signed C. Prosperi, London, with mourning cherub leaning on down-turned torch, seated on inscription plaque. Almost life-sized angel on plinth erected by Edward Grant, 1907, recording names on plinth of all members of family buried in vault below. Female angel has upturned left arm and holds scroll in right hand inscribed UNTIL/THE DAY/DAWN. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, pp.291 and 292; Kelly's Directory for Northamptonshire, 1928; 'Litchborough in Northamptonshire', A short history of village and church (leaflet)).

{4} Undated photo, also photo dated 20.10.1978, and two photos dated 15.12.1993;

{5}Church restored in 1883; medieval tile.

{8} To the south west of the tower of the church is the dilapidated socket, with a square mortice hole, of a cross. The socket stood near the village inn, and was then placed in the churchyard. It is impossible to say whether it is part of a churchyard or village cross.

{9} The Church of St Martin at Litchborough is constructed of sandstone and ironstone, and dates from the 13th and 14th centuries, with various restorations.

{10} The church is in normal use. The socket stone is not at the described site and local enquiries
failed to locate it.

{13} Notes, photos, drawings with measurements, newspaper cutting, notes on coloured glass, sketches, tracings, engravings of tomb of Sir John Nedham;

{14} Drawing with measurements of pedestal of cross described in item 8;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 6/116 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Photographs of buildings in Litchborough (Photographs). SNN112601.

<5> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, Parish Files (checked) (Archive). SNN115.

<6> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, 43 p.18-21 (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<7> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches, Litchborough (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<8> Markham C.A., 1895, Associated Architectural Societies Reports, p. 180 (Series). SNN13056.

<9> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, Ministry of Housing and Local Government List Towcester Rural District, 1949 (Report). SNN112993.

<10> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 02-FEB-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<11> Historic England, Undated, St Martin's Church, Litchborough, BF107359 (Archive). SNN115789.

<12> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 121-3 (Book). SNN101533.

<13> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/174/1-29,31-41,43,44,49 (Archive). SNN115.

<14> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/174/30 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Mar 20 2025 4:27PM