Building record 1160/35/1 - Doddridge United Reformed Church (formerly Congregational Church)

[Also known as the Castle Hill Meeting House]. The original Presbyterian meeting house of 1695, much altered to the north in 1862, by which time it was Congregational, forms the basis of the present building, which has walls of coursed ironstone rubble and a hipped slate roof. The south front of three bays is partly covered by a large vestibule built in 1890.

{1} Founded 1662, built 1695, enlarged 1852 and 1890. South wall sundial had inscription: "Post est occasio calva 1695". Sandstone ashlar, hipped Welsh slated roof. 2 rows of windows with C19 glazing. South antechapel 1890. Galleried interior. Included partly for historical interest as the earliest surviving Nonconformist chapel in Northampton. Monument to Philip Doddridge, 1751, by John Hunt.

{3} Castle Hill Meeting probably older than 1662 although augmented by secessions from St Giles' & St Peter's in that year; in 1672 licenses granted for worship in six houses in town; known history of Castle Hill congregation starts with ministry of Samuel Blower in 1674; his meeting house one of few to escape fire. Present Castle Hill Chapel built 1695 and now known as Doddridge Chapel; rectangular building with hipped roof; sundial dated 1695 on south side; building enlarged and newly roofed in 1852; spacious vestibule built on south side covering two original doorways.

{4} Only building near site of castle in C18th was a chapel now callled Dodderidge Chapel which has since been enlarged.

{5} Watercolour sketch shows older chapel building.

{6} Church meeting in Quart Pot Lane or Doddridge Street formed in late C17th; notable for ministry of Dr Philip Doddridge who was pastor 1730-51; also maintained important dissenting academy in town. Original meeting house of 1695 was much altered and enlarged to north in 1862 but still forms basis of present building; walls of coursed ironstone rubble and hipped Welsh slate roof; low gabled vestry of circa 1695 projects on west side; large vestibule built in front in 1890; monument to Philip Doddridge by John Hunt and Gilbert West; interior details given; photographs included; 1695 sundial on south wall.

{8} Mention of Doddridge in connection with dissenting movement.

{16} Two photos dated 1990.

{17} Philip Doddridge preached for 22 years here. There is a monument to him comprising an asymmetrical pyramid of the Cox type, although signed by John Hunt.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 1+5/7 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> ARNOLD T.;COOPER J.J., 1895, THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF DODDERIDGE, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN57706.

<3> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.61 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<4> Law, E. F. & Scriven R.G., 1880, The Earthwork on The Site of The Castle at Northampton, p.206 (checked) (Series). SNN4072.

<5> Paintings (referred to in Scriven 1880), (unchecked) (Illustration). SNN4073.

<6> The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1986, Nonconformist Chapels and Meeting-Houses: Northamptonshire & Oxfordshire, p.145 (Report). SNN2902.

<7> Noble; Butlin, 1746, Town Map, (checked) (Map). SNN430.

<8> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.69 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<9> Coleman, T, 1853, Memorials of the Independent Churches of Northamptonshire, 9-37 (Book). SNN54569.

<10> Harrison J., 2003, A Plan Devised in Northampton 250 Years Ago is Still Being Put Into Practice, p.56-61 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109363.

<11> Bates D.L., 2000, Naturae Accedere Partes: The Northampton Philosophical Society Revisited, p.19-30 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102512.

<12> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H14 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN1000.

<13> GASCOIGNE T. ET AL., 1896, HISTORY OF CASTLE HILL CHAPEL, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN57573.

<14> GODFREY B.S., 1947, CASTLE HILL MEETING, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN57657.

<15> DEACON M., 1980, PHILIP DODDERIDGE OF NORTHAMPTON, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN57656.

<16> Photographs of buildings in Northampton (Photographs). SNN114989.

<17> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 441 (Book). SNN111989.

Record last edited

Sep 19 2024 9:00AM