Building record 3980/1/1 - Church of Holy Trinity, Rothwell

12th-early 16th centuries. Spire collapsed 1660. Transepts cut down, 1673. Chancel restored 1848, the remainder restored between 1893 and 1910. Ironstone with limestone bands and dressings and lead roofs. Plinths, string courses and moulded parapets and gables throughout. West tower, nave with clerestory, north and south aisles with porches, Lady chapel, south chapel, chancel and sanctuary under continuous roof, crypt. A possible Roman pavement was found in Rothwell Church and given to Northampton Museum.

{1}Parish Church. C12, C13, C14, C15, early C16. Spire collapsed 1660. Transepts cut down, 1673. Chancel restored 1848, the remainder restored between 1893 and 1910. Ironstone with limestone bands and dressings and lead roofs. .Plinths, string courses and moulded parapets and gables throughout. West tower, nave with clerestory, north and south aisles with porches. Lady chapel, south chapel, chancel and santuary under continuous roof, crypt. 3-stage west tower, c 1225 and C14, has 3 angle and clasping buttresses, plinth and string courses, 4 pinnacles and pyramidal roof with finial and wind vane. West side has roll moulded doorway of 5 orders with ringed shafts and responds, and re-set late C12 arch with zigzag bands. Above the door, 3 round relieving arches. South side has 3 similar arches. Second stage has to north 2 blocked C14 openings, that to left containing a lancet. To their right, a blocked C13 roll moulded opening with shafts. All have hood moulds. To west, a partly blocked late C14 double lancet, now containing a moulded clock dial. The bell stage has on each side 2 cusped transomed double lancet openings with hood moulds. At the north east corner a hexagonal stair turret with plinth and string courses and C19 spire with a tier of lucarnes. Clerestory, C15, has single bellcote to east gable. On either side, 7 plain 3-light windows with 4-centred arched heads. C13 north aisle, 4 bays, has to north 4 and to west a single butress, 2 set-offs. North side has 3 restored n Perpendicular triple lancets with hood moulds and mask stops. West end has a very similar window. C14 north porch has rollmoulded doorway with triple shafts, hood mould and stops, and 2-leaf C17 studded doors. Gable has crocketed pinnacles. Slab roof. To east, remodelled former transept has 3 buttresses, the central one largest, and 2 blocked arches. In the east one, a plain late C13 double lancet. In the west one, a Perpendicular triple lancet. Lady chapel, C13, refenestrated C15, 3 bays, has at north east corner a complex external pier with a gabled frieze, topped with a spire. North side has 3 transomed Perpendicular lancets and to their right, a C13 moulded doorway. East end has a C13 triple lancet with interesting tracery, its lower light blocked by a C19 lean-to vestry, Perpendicular style. All the openings have hood moulds. Buttressed late C13 south aisle, 4 bays, has to south 3 tall plain triple lancets with shafts, hood moulds and mask stops. 2-bay south chapel, to east, has 2 blocked arches flanking a central plain buttress. The smaller arch to the left contains a C13 triple lancet with spherical triangles over. The larger arch to the east has a similar cusped window and to its left, a restored priest's door. The east end has a Perpendicular 4-light lancet. All the openings have hood moulds and stops. South porch, C13 and C14, has moulded doorway with ringed shafts, gable and crocketed pinnacles, and slab roof. Vaulted interior has roll moulded inner doorway. To its left, a lean-to enclosure covering the winder stairs to the crypt. Sanctuary east end, mid C14, has a cusped 5-light lancet with panel tracery and hood mould with mask stops flanked by single angle buttresses with octagonal upper parts topped with spires. Chancel south side has a near-central buttress and to its left, 2 blocked arches, that to right with C19 Geometrical triple lancet. To the right, a Restored Perpendicular triple lancet with blocked lower lights. Both have hood moulds. Above, to the left, 3 late C12 round headed windows and above them, a C12 corbel table. Above and to the left again, a C19 2-light window. Interior has C14 vaulted tower chamber with bosses and bell hole, and late C13 moulded tower arch with filleted shafts and naturalistic capitals. Nave arcades, early C13, raised mid C13, 5 bays, incorporate c1200 crossing at the east end. Round and square piers, filleted shafts, and similar responds with rings. Triple chamfered western arches, double coved eastern arches, with hood moulds. To the north east, moulded rood stair doorway. Above, sill band and plain clerestory windows. Queen post roof, early C20. North aisle west end has C13 moulded doorway to tower, with mid C17 door. North side east windows have C13 surrounds. East end has early C14 double chamfered arch into former transept and to east again, triple chamfered arch with shafts and traceried oak screen, 1935, to Lady chapel. Roof with moulded cambered tie-beams, restored c1660. Lady chapel has chamfered and moulded sill bands. North side has to east, C14 tomb recess and 3 windows with linked hood moulds. East end has stained glass window, 1931, flanked by single square brackets, and to east a C14 ogee piscina. South side has 2-bay arcade, C14, towards chancel. Renewed roof with cambered tie-beams and arch braces. South aisle has moulded sill band. South side has to east the remains of a C14 double piscina. East end has triple-coved C14 arch with hood mould and 3 re-set mask stops into the former transept. To east again, a double chamfered arch with a clustered pier to south and round respond to north, with hood mould and mask stops. Early C20 roof with moulded tie-beams and purlins. South chapel has on north side a re-set 2-light low side window and above, a C12 corbel table. Renewed roof similar to south aisle. Chancel has early C14 triple hollow chamfered arch with hood mould and stops and clustered shaft responds. Low C20 oak screen. Altered north and south arcades, 4 bays, have narrower western bays with quatrefoil piers with crocketed corbels. Eastern bays have square piers mostly with flanking shafts and crocketed corbels. North arcade has roll moulded western arches and double chamfered eastern arch. South arcade has simpler double chamfered arches. All have hood moulds. North west corner has a chamfered rood loft doorway. Sanctuary north side has a C16 doorway and a C20 aumbry. East end has a Perpendicular style wooden reredos, 1927. South side has remains of a late C13 canopied triple piscina and a damaged C14 canopied quadruple sedilia. To west, a stained glass window, 1912. Above a sill band and 5 unglazed C12 windows with linked hood mould. Chancel and sanctuary have renewed low pitched arch-braced roof with good quality beast and mask corbels. Rare 2-bay crypt, early C13, has chamfered ribbed vault and contains the bones of some 1,500 persons. East end has traces of wall painting. Fittings include unusual hexagonal C13 font with detached ringed angle shafts. Restored C14 traceried stalls with figure finials and 8 misericords. C18 baluster type altar rail. Brass chandelier, 1733. Royal arms, late C18, C19 and C20 pulpit, lectern and chairs. Panelled marquetry screen, 1922, made from C17 panels. Memorials include 3 C13 coffin lids, incised lid,1309, brass to William de Rowell, 1361. 2 chest tombs, one with brasses, to Owen Ragsdale, 1591, with Latin inscription. Pedimented Classical painted marble tablet with Latin inscription to Andrea Lane, 1694. Painted marble hanging cartouche with apron and Latin inxcription to Elizabeth Lane, 1694. 2 marble tablets, mid and late C18, 6 C19 tablets. Wooden memorial tablets, 1918 and 1945. The church was founded by Earl Roger de Clare, and became a possession of Cirencester Abbey in 1133. Source: Pevsner; Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire, 1928; S Hawkins, Holy Trinity Church Guide.

{4} Holy Trinity is one of the largest and most complex of Northamptonshire churches, which was already a very substantial structure by the 12th century. The church has been surveyed by the RCHME and a plan exists but the study has not yet been published. It is likely that the complexity reflects the existence of a substantial late Saxon church. The size and architectural wealth of the church may in part be a reflection of the wealth of the town of Rothwell but, given the size the church had already attained by the 12th century, it is far more likely that it is a reflection of late Saxon minster functions, the patronage of the Abbots of Cirencester as rector, and the function of the church as the head of a medieval deanery.

{5} In 1878 the churchyard was full and so an extension was added to the south, on land purchased from the Maunsell family, lords of the manor. The earlier extent of the churchyard is however clear from the 1813 map.

{9}Observation was undertaken of test pits on the south side of the church in advance of drainage works. Evidence relating to the former plan of the south side of the church demolished in 1673 included the identification of a possible mortar floor surface, a short section of masonry plus possible wall lines visible as robber trenches. Finds included several pieces of medieval pottery and floor tile.

{10}Medieval church incorporates medieval wall paintings.

{11}Small fragment of "Roman" pavement from Rothwell Church;

{12}Not Roman; probably post medieval;,

{15} Two photos of church dated July 1998, also three photos of Saunders Brass dated July 1998, photo of Ragsdale Brass dated July 1998, and photo of medieval coffin covers dated July 1998;

[16} (SP 81628114) Church.

{18} A small fragment of Roman pavement "from Rothwell Church" was given to Northants Museum in 1931 by the executors of Mrs Sarah Sargent of Hastings. No literary reference is known.

{19} P.G Childs (Keeper Ants Northampton Museum) is attempting to locate this pavement. Information to be forwarded to AO Division when available.

{20} Roman building (?) SP 81638114.The only piece of pavement from Rothwell in the museum appears to be modern.

{21} Rubbings of tiles, descriptions of brasses, description and plan of church, description and plan of crypt;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 9/82 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H13 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100754.

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

<4> Foard G, 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Rothwell (Medieval and Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100514.

<5> 1991, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.53-4 (unchecked)* (Catalogue). SNN44695.

<6> , 1900, Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Map Series, * (Map). SNN55976.

<7> , 1926, Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Map Series, * (Map). SNN55977.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1880, First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Mapping Series (24.08), * (Map). SNN55941.

<9> Jones S., 2001, Archaeological Trial Trenching At Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell, Northants, * (Report). SNN101433.

<10> Bull, F W, 1912, Proceedings of The Society of Antiquaries, 225-9* (Journal). SNN31282.

<11> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches, (unchecked)* (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<12> MOORE W.R.G., ORAL REPORT TO SMR, * (Uncertain). SNN50635.

<13> 1813, Rothwell Tithe Map (TM 390/Map 3106), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100515.

<14> Bloxham M.H., 1878, On The Medieval Sepulchral Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.259 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN107097.

<15> Photographs of buildings in Rothwell (Photographs). SNN113168.

<16> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1958 (Map). SNN112944.

<17> Undated, Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell, BF107400 (Archive). SNN113755.

<18> Annotated Record Map, Corr 6" (R W Brown 22.12.53) (Map). SNN112961.

<19> Colquhoun, FD, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 FDC 03-OCT-1969 (Notes). SNN112950.

<20> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 130/Site 4 (Series). SNN77380.

<21> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/232/1-4,6-10,12-14,17,18 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 11:18AM