Building record 663/4/1 - Church of St. Mary

Former Weedon priory Church. The West wall of the nave and lower parts of the West tower are circa 1100 and there are 13th century remains in the chancel. The nave and chancel were rebuilt in the 14th century when the South aisle, South chapel and South porch were added. The North aisle and North vestry were added in 1849.

{1} Church. C.1100 herringbone masonry in west wall of nave and lower part of the tower; early C13 remains in the chancel; the rest is C14 with a north aisle and vestry of 1849. Limestone ashlar, coursed squared limestone and ironstone, lead roof and C20 old tile roof to porch with south aisle extended beside chancel to form a chapel. East and south windows of chancel are Victorian. Blocked early C13 lancet in north wall, similar window in south wall, now forming inner wall of south-east chapel. East window of south-east chapel, Decorated, 3-lights with Reticulated tracery. All windows in south aisle Decorated. 2-lights with flowing tracery and ogee hoods with carved finials. Priest's doorway with ogee-headed arch in second bay from right. South porch also Decorated, has entrance arch with continuous mouldings. Inner doorway similar with C19 double plank doors. Decorated west window to nave with Victorian tracery. Lower stage of tower Norman. Upper stage Perpendicular with castellated parapet and bell openings of 2-cusped lights. Interior: Decorated recess below east window of chancel, restored and some carving reset in C19. Has ogee hood with crockets and finial, flanked by crocketed pinnacles. K.Lewis suggests that this was a shrine of St. Lucien. Tower arches, C14, except that to the north which is C19. All have half octagonal responds and double chamfered arches, and hood with head stops. South-east chapel has C14 double-chamfered arch opening to the chancel and similar arch with large head stops to the south aisle. Decorated piscina recess with crocketed ogee hood in chapel. Piscina in south aisle also Decorated, has recess with crocketed hood and large head stops. Two C14 tomb recesses with continuous mouldings in south aisle. Roofs C19. Font, Romanesque, circular with leaf carving and beaded lunettes. Stone pulpit, 1849, copied from the octagonal Perpendicular pulpit at Bloxham church. Wall paintings in south aisle, medieval, fragmentary, said to represent two seated figures. There was a priory at Weedon linked with the Abbey of St. Lucien in Normandy. The present parish church was the priory church. The monks are said to have brought with them relics of their patron saint and there was a well dedicated to St. Lucien (also known as St. Loys) south of the church. The priory was closed down in 1414. Buildings of England: Northamptonshire; K. Lewis, Weedon St. Lois, Priory and Parish, Reprint 1978, Brackley.).

{8} The Benedictine priory church is now the parish church. Dedication to Our Lady

{10} Description of Romanesque font. The font is by the workshop responsible for the font at nearby Tiffield, and similar work is found on the font at Dodford

{11} Undated photo.

{12} Originally the Benedictine priory cell Church of Our Lady of Weedon.

{13} In normal use.

{17} Drawings, sketches, measurements, rubbings, notes, photos;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/214 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F03 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> LEWIS K., 1978, Weedon St. Loys: priory and parish, (unchecked) (Book). SNN60105.

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

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.257-58 (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<6> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.448-49 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<7> DRAWINGS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN56518.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP64NW10 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<9> Adkins, D., 2003, Drawing of Weedon Pinkney Parish, Based on Thomas Langdon's Map of 1593, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN107039.

<10> King's College, London, 2017, A corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland, Site 1344 (Website). SNN110894.

<11> Photographs of buildings in Weston and Weedon (Photographs). SNN114034.

<12> Lee M., 2004, Henry Penn, Bellfounder, 1685-1729, p.41-53 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109357.

<12> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Typewritten notice inside church (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<13> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 03-FEB-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<14> Knowles; Hadcock, 1971, Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales, p. 94 (Book). SNN10192.

<15> Historic England, Undated, St Peter and St Marys Church, Weedon Lois, Weston and Weedon, BF107439 (Archive). SNN115803.

<16> Historic England, Undated, RELIGIOUS HOUSES, 897364 (Archive). SNN115804.

<17> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/290/2-31 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 8:59AM