Building record 5421/2/1 - Church of St. Peter and St. Paul

Church constructed of coursed and squared ironstone and corsed ironstone and limestone rubble. The slate roofs have tile ridges except for the felt roofs to the aisles. The church consists of an Early English Nave, Decorated chancel and west tower. The south aisle and south porch were rebuilt mid 16th Century, and the church was restored and reseated 1855 by William Butterfield, the organ chamber added, chancel rebuilt and church restored 1878 by E F Law.

{1} Church. C13, C14, C16; restored and reseated 1855 by William Butterfield, organ chamber added, chancel rebuilt and church restored 1878 by E.F. Law. Coursed squared ironstone and coursed ironstone and limestone rubble, slate roofs with tile ridges except for felt roofs to aisles. Chancel, organ chamber, nave, aisles, south porch and west tower. 2-bay chancel has 3-light C19 Decorated east window with reticulated tracery and straight-headed windows to north and south with ogee-headed lights, quatrefoil to head to that to south-east; diagonal offset buttresses, chamfered plinth and string course at sill level and plain stone-coped parapet with frieze at eaves level decorated with alternate heads and fleurons. Organ chamber (now vestry) to south has roll-moulded and hollow-chamfered door to east with hood mould and head stops (door re-set and partly renewed), Decorated style 2-light windows to east and south, diagonal offset buttresses, chamfered plinth, string course, plain stone-coped parapet and hipped roof. Nave has clerestory of quatrefoil windows, 4 to north, 3 to south, with square chamfered stone surrounds; hollow-chamfered stone eaves and stone-coped east gable with kneelers. C13 north aisle has 2-light coupled lancet windows except for that to north-east which has C19 tracery and trefoil to head. Double-chamfered north door with hood mould. South aisle has 2-light hollow-chamfered stone mullion windows to south and C19 quatrefoil window to west. C13 south door with one order of shafts, imposts and single-stepped arch with nail-head decoration in C19 gabled porch. 3-stage west tower has blocked west door with hollow chamfer and sunk-quadrant moulding, and hood mould with label stops. 2-light window above with trefoil to head, small niche with ogee-arched head to middle stage west, small 1-light window with cusped head to middle stage south and 2-light bell-chamber openings with ogee-arched heads to lights and quatrefoil to head. Diagonal offset buttresses and plain stone-coped parapet. Diagonal offset buttresses to south aisle, hollow-chamfered stone eaves to aisles and hood moulds to all windows except those to clerestory and south aisle. Interior: chancel has piscina with ogee-arched head and crocketed hood mould. Chancel arch has double sunk-quadrant-moulded arch, the inner arch on corbels. Nave has 5-bay north arcade with octagonal piers, moulded capitals and chamfered arches. 4-bay south arcade has octagonal piers, moulded capitals and double-chamfered arches with polygonal respond. Over life-size carved stone bearded head over middle arch of north aisle. North aisle has blocked recess with shafts and double roll-moulded arch, possibly an Easter Sepulchre. Font with plain round bowl and C17 octagonal, pyramidal, cover with ball finial. Polygonal pulpit and lectern designed by William Butterfield. C19 stained glass east window. Monuments: brass of Sir Walter Mauntell, d.1487, and his wife holding hands. Wall monument to Judge Francis Morgan, d.1556, his wife and family with kneeling figures of husband and wife facing each other at prayer desk with members of their family behind them, flanked by allegorical figures in niches - Fides (feet only) and Spes. Simple marble wall monuments to Mrs. Sarah Bull, d.1718, Mr. George Goldburne of Upper Heyford, d.1688, and Thomas Goldburne, d.1697. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.311; Kelly's Directory for Northamptonshire, 1928; St. Peter and St. Paul Heyford; official guide (leaflet), no date).

{9} Undated photo, also two photos dated 15.12.1993.

{11} [Former list description] Yellow stone, aisle roofs lead, the remainder slate. The church consists of chancel, nave with clerestory, aisles, south porch and west tower. In the chancel which is Decorated is a crocketted ogee headed piscina. The Early English south arcade of the nave has four bays, the north arcade five bays. The north aisle has Early English windows and a tomb niche. The south aisle and south porch were rebuilt mid C.16. The south door is Transitional and the vase shaped font probably Early English. The north tower, mainly Decorated has three stages, diagonal buttresses and plain parapet on a corbel table. The church was restored in 1851. The monuments include a fine 15th-century brass of a knight and lady, another brass c1400 and in the south aisle a mid 16th-century Corinthian monument with kneeling effigy to Sir Francis Morgan, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, d. 1558.

{14} Sketch and detailed drawing, with dimensions, of font, plan of church, sketch, notes on refurbishment;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 10/127 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 424 (Book). SNN111989.

<4> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<5> DRAWINGS, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN46813.

<6> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.188-90 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<7> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.522-24 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<8> Lee M., 2004, Henry Penn, Bellfounder, 1685-1729, p.41-53 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109357.

<9> Photographs of buildings in Nether Heyford (Photographs). SNN112901.

<10> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1958` (Map). SNN112944.

<11> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOE (HHR) District of Northamptonshire Rural District, May 1961 (Report). SNN112993.

<12> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, District of South Northamptonshire, 04/12/1987 (Report). SNN112993.

<13> Undated, St Peter and St Paul's Church, Nether Heyford, BF107374 (Archive). SNN113585.

<14> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/148/2,7-10 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Mar 20 2025 4:27PM