Building record 33/1/1 - Church of St. Leonard

Church built in the 12-13th century, with early 14th additions. The church was restored circa 1870 and in 1881-2 by J M Townsend. Built of coursed squared ironstone and coursed rubble, with lead and slate roofs. The church consists of a chancel, nave and aisles, south porch, west tower and west porch.

{1} Church. C12/C13, and early C14. Restored c.1870 and 1881-2 by J.M. Townsend. Coursed squared ironstone and coursed rubble, lead and slate roofs. Chancel, nave and aisles south porch, west tower and west porch. Chancel has C14 priest's door to north and early C14 windows with cusped Y tracery (mostly renewed C19). 2 early C13 windows right of porch in south aisle. Window to left, 2 lights with plate tracery, window to right, pair of lancets. C19 window left of porch. C14 west window has 2 ogee-headed lights under square hood and ogee-headed recess below. C14 south porch, restored C19. C13 inner doorway has arch with roll mouldings, jamb shafts with bell capitals and a ribbed plank door. North doorway (blocked) c.1200 has pointed arch of 2 unchamfered orders. Jambs have scallop capital to east and capital with stylised leaves to west. Shafts missing. Two early C13 two-light windows to left. West tower C12/C13. Three stages, plain parapet; C12 round-headed lancet south side ground stage C13 bell openings of 2 lights with plate tracery (renewed C19). Gabled C14 porch. Inner doorway c.1200 has pointed arch of 3 unchamfered orders, chamfered jambs and simple moulded band in place of capitals. Interior: C13 double piscina and sedilia in chancel. C13 nave arcades, 3 bays with circular and octagonal piers and double chamfered arches. Perpendicular nave roof. Romanesque font, square carved with intersecting blind arcading on south side, knot pattern to east, tree of life to west and chequer pattern to north. C14 stone effigy of a priest in recess in chancel with cupsed arch flanked by finial thought to be monumnet to John de Ardele, who was presented as priest to this church in 1348 (V.C.H.). Monument to Elizabeth Orme, died 1692, wall tablet, north aisle, white marble with black Ionic half columns surmounted by crest and small portrait bust. Bench ends have re-used medieval tracery and small buttresses. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.95; V.C.H.: Northamptonshire, Vol.I, p.405).

{11} Description of Romanesque features in church including north nave doorway and font.

{12} Photograph;

{13} Undated photo;

{14} Various plans and drawings, one dated June 1878, one dated February 1881;

{15} [Former list description] A Church of St. Leonard
Stone, chancel roof slate, remainder lead. The lower part of the tower is Transitional the tower arch Early English, the upper part is C14 with plain parapet and weather vane. The north doorway is Transitional, of one order, the shafts of the columns have been removed. The remaining parts of the nave are Decoraated with a Perpendicular clerestory. The chancel was probably originally C14 but has been rebuilt late C19 - early C20. The square font is Norman, the four faces carved with arcading, foliage and basket pattern. In the chancel is part of one Decorated bench end and an effigy of a priest in a niche. On the east end of the north aisle is a wall monument to Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Orme, 1692, small Ionic columns flanking tablet, entablature broken forward in centre with cherub's head and cartouche with bust over. The lady had so many virtues that the tablet was too small for the inscription which is continued on an apron below with carving at the base. On the north wall of this aisle are two brasses (in very bad condition), one with incised figures of Alban Butler 1609, his two wives and family, the other to George Butler of Appletree, 1685. The church has been over restored C19. In the churchyard are good C18 headstones.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 2/3 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F02 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77384.

<4> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.405 (unchecked) (Series). SNN10247.

<5> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.95 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77383.

<7> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.472-74 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<8> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<9> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.101-103 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<10> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<11> King's College, London, 2017, A corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland, Site 1248 (Website). SNN110894.

<12> Various, Various, Photographs of buildings in Aston le Walls, 86/31 (Photographs). SNN111135.

<13> Photographs of buildings in Aston Le Walls (Photographs). SNN111879.

<14> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/12/1-9 (Archive). SNN115.

<15> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOE(HHR) District of Brackley Rural District, September 1960 (Report). SNN112993.

<16> Historic England, Undated, St Leonard's Church, Aston le Walls, BF107239 (Archive). SNN115810.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 9:18AM