Building record 1965/1/1 - Church of St. Andrew

Parish church built in the late 12th century, now chapel of ease. The tower was added in the late 13th century and alterations and additions were carried out in the 14th and 15th centuries and in 1674. The church was restored and the north transept was added in 1847. Built of coursed limestone rubble (partly rendered to east) with a scattering of ironstone ashlar dressings. Roofs are not visible (probably of lead). The church consist of a west tower, nave with north aisle, south porch and north transept, and chancel with north and south chapels.

{7} Parish church, now chapel of ease. Late C12 origin, tower late C13, alterations and additions of C14, C15 and 1674, restoration and north transept 1847. Coursed limestone rubble (partly rendered to east) with a scattering of ironstone ashlar dressings. Roofs not visible (probably of lead). West tower, nave with north aisle, south porch and north transept, chancel with north and south chapels. Tower of 2 stages: tall lower stage has set-back buttresses, low, steeply-pointed west doorway with finely-moulded shaped surround, lancet above amd a set of tiny stair-lights to left. South side has lancet and east side shows scar of earlier steeply-pitched nave roof. Each side of bell-stage has a 2-light decorated window with quatrefoil head, then 3 plain corbels (central one to south replaced by clock) and a small lancet above. Castellated parapet on moulded eaves. Castellated parapets also to, chancel and porch, plain parapets to nave and chapels. South side of nave shows signs of heightening for clerestory of 4 spherical triangles and has a bell-moulded string course, a 2-light Perpendicular square-headed window with head-stopped hood-mould and a 3-light pointed window with intersecting tracery either side of porch with continuously-moulded arched entrance and flanking buttresses. South side of south chapel, refaced with squared stone has doorway with depressed ogee head and diamond-shaped stone above dated 1674 and a traceried 2-light window (perhaps originally of 4 lights) with 4-centred head. Row of C18 eaved headstones reset alongside wall beneath. East end of chancel has plinth, cill band and 3-light Perpendicular traceried window with hood mould. East end of south chapel has a 2-light window with cusped lights, hood-mould and cill band. East end of north chapel has a 3-light Perpendicular window. North side of north chapel has buttress and 3-light window with 4-centred head and hood mould. C19 transept has Perpendicular style details. North aisle has a 3-light window (originally longer) with 4-centred head, and a 2-light square-headed Perpendicular window with moulded stones, resembling pieces of reset string course, placed vertically either side. Buttress at west end. North clerestory as south. Interior: late C12 3-bay north nave arcade of round single-stepped arches carried on cylindrical columns with plain round capitals. Richly-moulded C13 pointed tower arch of 4 chamfered orders. Plainer C14 chancel arch of 2 chamfered orders on polygonal responds, the south one of ironstone. Roof stair rises from north chapel but rood left doorway is concealed by plaster. Heavily-restored nave roof (probably only tie-beams are pre-C19) with king posts, tracery and arch braces carried on corbels in the form of carved heads of kings, bishops and (to west) knights. Other roofs either restored or C19. Medieval piscina in north chapel and at east end of nave. East window contains fragments of medieval and C17 English and continental glass. North aisle containing brasses to John Fossebrok, d.1418 and his wife (nurse to Henry VI), and to John Fosbroke, d.1602 and his 2 wives. South chapel contains inter alia elaborate wall monuments to Bernard Walcot, d.1671 and Sir William Robinson d.1678/9 (with a bust attributed to James Hardy) and C18 slate floor slabs with inlaid curvilinear inscriptions. C19 pulpit contains reset C16 Flemish panels carved with Biblical scenes. Plain octagonal font with C17 flat cover on probably C19 traceried shafts.

{13, 14} Archaeological watching brief undertaken during internal repairs. A number of burials were found including three that predated the original west wall, presumed to be 12th century. Early wall footings to the east of the burials may be remanants of an earlier church.

{17} A medley of medieval glass is present in the chancel east window. Most of the glazing consists of north European roundels and fragments of 16th and 17th-century date. The English medieval glass is mostly located in the tracery. This arrangement was in existence by 1849. The glass was restored in 1992.

<1> Thorne A., 1997, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN49032.

<2> Prentice J., 2000, Building Recording At Cranford St. Andrew Church, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN100250.

<3> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.227-29 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<4> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77383.

<6> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<7> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 18/168 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<8> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), K1/4 p.27-28 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN100754.

<9> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.188-9 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<10> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.167 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<12> 2000-01, Cranford, St Andrew's Church, (unchecked) (Note). SNN103993.

<13> Thorne A., 1998, An Archaeological Watching Brief at St Andrews Church, Cranford (Report). SNN44100.

<14> 1998, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (28), p. 36 & fig 3 (Journal). SNN100580.

<15> Historic England, Undated, St Andrew's Church, Cranford St Andrew, BF107284 (Archive). SNN114291.

<16> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<17> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 51-53 (Book). SNN101533.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 11:39AM