Building record 244/1/1 - Church of St. Nicholas

The church retains some 13th century features and the west tower is of 14th century date. The building was restored and enlarged in 1864-5 by R C Hussey who added the south aisle and extended north aisle east to form the vestry. The building is of squared coursed ironstone, with limestone dressings and slate roofs. The church consists of a chancel, north vestry, aisled nave, south porch and west tower.

{1} Church. C13 and C14. Restored and enlarged 1864-5 by R.C. Hussey who added the south aisle and extended north aisle east to form vestry. Squared coursed ironstone, limestone dressings, slate roof. Chancel, north vestry, aisled nave, south porch, west tower. East window of chancel, C19. Three C14 two-light windows with flowing tracery to south. North aisle has three 2-light C14 windows with flowing tracery, and late Perpendicular west window with 3 arched uncusped lights and square hood. C14 north doorway (blocked). Early C14 west tower of 2 stages has crenellated parapet and C19 pinnacles. Bell openings and west window with Y-tracery. West doorway has continuous mouldings. Interior: C14 piscina recess with cusped ogee arch in chancel. Chancel arch of 2 chamfered orders has corbels carved with leaves. 4-bay north arcade has double chamfered arches and early C13 round pier with square abacus to west. Other piers C19. Romanesque font, the base like an octagonal scalloped capital, recessed circular bowl with fluted decoration with band of stylised leaves around the top. Stained glass heraldic shields in windows of north aisle, c.1830 by Russell of Oxford. Stone effigy of a lady, C14 (badly weathered) in south aisle. Monument to the Rev. Francis Annesley, died 1811, by Bacon junior. Grey and white marble wall tablet with urn in shallow relief, above doorway in south aisle. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.211).

{8} Description of Romanesque features of church including north arcade of nave and font. The font must be connected to the Aylesbury group, from which it copies all of its features without being an exact copy of any of them. It is certainly not the product of that highly-skilled workshop, as its inaccurate blocking out and straight-sided bowl amply demonstrate.

{9} Undated photo;

{11} Photo of church dated 1868, drawings of church dated 1844 and 1865-66, drawing of gargoyle dated 1877, drawing of font, also many sketches, notes and measurements of various parts of the church;

{12} Litho of font, drawings and measurements of various parts of church, drawings and measurements of old pews;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 3/91 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.211 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.506-7 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.122-24 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<6> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN10247.

<7> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<8> King's College, London, 2017, A corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland, Site 437 (Website). SNN110894.

<9> Photographs of buildings in Eydon (Photographs). SNN111701.

<10> Historic England, Undated, St Nicholas' Church, Eydon, BF107310 (Archive). SNN115537.

<11> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/106/13,14,16-19,21-23,29,48 (Archive). SNN115.

<12> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/106/9-12,24,25,30-49,51-56 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 9:04AM