Building record 1160/7/1 - St John's Roman Catholic Church

Former chapel of the Medieval Hospital of St John, founded circa 1137. Mainly C15 and C16 with early C14 east window.

{1} Former chapel of the Medieval Hospital of St John, founded circa 1137. Mainly C15 and C16 with early C14 east window. Rectangular plan, coursed rubble walls, C15 on west with large traceried window, late C16 or early C17 on north. South wall rebuilt circa 1853-4 with pair of 2-light windows of C14 type. West doorway with original 2 fold panelled doors, 2 centred nearly semi-circular arch, square label moulding enclosing quatrefoil spandrels. St John's Roman Catholic Church and hall form a group.

{2} Former chapel of medieval hospital of St John; founded circa 1138; mainly C15/16th with early C14th east window; rect plan; coursed rubble walls of C15th on west with large traceried window & late C16/early C17th on north; south wall rebuilt circa 1853-4; west doorway with original 2 fold panelled doors;Hospital Chapel appears to have been used for weddings during later years of C17th; highly irregular & was stopped by passing of Marriage Act in 1754; details of some of marriages given; registers of several neighbouring parishes contain records of these; building is to north-east of Almshouse & attached at corners; small building 50ft long by 20ft wide; largely restored; east window probably dates to end of C14th; west end of building probably rebuilt about middle of C15th; details of window glass.

{5} Stone wall erected on north boundary abutting chapel; trench 4.10 x 0.70 x 0.85m deep cut C18-20th horizons only; 18 sherds of pottery retained; 2 courses of wall of chapel were exposed at west end;

{6} Chapel through door to left from infirmary; each end has good decorated window of 3 lights; perpendicular window at west end with door beneath;

{7} "There is also a chapel close adjoining.. The chapel was repaired a few years ago and is in good condition."

{8} "… The hospital consists of a chapel……The present master hath neatly fitted up the chapel at his own expense……In the windows are some imperfect coats of arms & broken figures & in one window the centre portrait of a person mitred with a crozier in his hand and of another in a posture of prayer……In several places of the east window in small black letters is 'Honor Deo'."

{9} The chapel has a good Decorated window of three lights at the east end & at the west end a Perpendicular doorway with a richly panelled door.

{10} Chapel rebuilt in early C19th with little attempt at restoration; west front still complete & good example of Perpendicular;

{11} (Quoted from Serjeantson); high tomb in north side of church to Lady Margaret; in south side lies Elis Pouger with a French epitaph; some of those killed in the Battle of Northampton were also interred here;

{12} C15th chapel;

{13} The chapel is attached by its south-west corner to the north-east corner of the hospital; chapel in parallelogram 50ft long by 20ft wide; walls of red sandstone; oolite doorways & windows; considerable repairs & restorations made by Charity Commissioners in C19th when whole south wall was rebuilt; main entrance in west end; roof entirely new; detailed description given.

{16} Possible C14th Decorated east window may survive from earlier hospital buildings; Perpendicular west front of chapel of late C15th/early C16th; other walls much rebuilt at later period; restoration work carried out in 1853; in 1955 two surviving hospital buildings were gutted & by addition of new chancel were converted into Roman Catholic church;

{17} Former hospital of St John; west front has moulded doorway & 5-light panel-traceried windows; decorated east window may be C14th & survive from earlier hospital buildings; SP754602; [? Is this describing the Infirmary Building?]

{18} In 1307 brethren were engaged in building their church & in high favour with Bishop who granted special indulgence to all assisting or contributing towards cost of building; building completed in 1310; further details given.

{21} Late 19th-century drawings and photographs by Sir Henry Dryden.

{22} Photo dated 1992;

{24} Engraving, plans with measurements, drawings, sketches, rubbings;

{25} As above;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 3/6 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H14 p.34 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN1000.

<3> 1871, MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN56912.

<4> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.59-60 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<5> Cadman G.E., 1989, St John's Church, Northampton, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN50370.

<6> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.79-81 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1032.

<7> The Charities Commission, 1837, Report of The Commissioners, p.809 (unchecked) (Report). SNN1205.

<8> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<9> De Wilde G.J., 1872, Rambles Roundabout and Poems, p.212 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1106.

<10> Poynton C.H., 1905, The History of St John's Hospital, (unchecked) (Article). SNN1126.

<11> Leland J., 1543, Itinerary, (unchecked) (Series). SNN13988.

<12> 1998, Buildings At Risk Survey, p.45 (checked) (Report). SNN43352.

<13> Serjeantson R.M., 1913, The Hospital of St. John, Northampton, (unchecked) (Article). SNN1135.

<14> Serjeantson R.M., 1912, The Hospital of St. John, Northampton, (unchecked) (Article). SNN1128.

<15> Dryden H., 1873, Hospital Dedicated to St John The Baptist at Northampton, p.213+230-32 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1119.

<16> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.65+341-3 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<17> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.343/Site 20 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77383.

<18> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.156-9 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<19> Soden I.; Leigh D., 2006, An Archaeological Watching Brief at St John's Hospital Chapel, Northampton, 2005, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105642.

<19> Soden, I and Leigh, D, 2006, The Hospital Chapel of St John, Northampton, (unchecked) (Article). SNN112208.

<20> The Citizen, 1989, Cash Dilemma for Crumbling Church (Newspaper cuttings). SNN110949.

<21> University for the Creative Arts, 2005, The Henry Dryden Collection on VADS, Accessed 07/07/2021 (Website). SNN112545.

<22> Photographs of buildings in Northampton (Photographs). SNN114989.

<23> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 158-9 (Book). SNN101533.

<24> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/198/440-442,451-461,463,464,466,471,475,483-485 (Archive). SNN115.

<25> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/198/583-588,590,591,593,595-605,608-610,616,617 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Nov 20 2024 2:30PM