Building record 2416/1/1 - St. Peter's Church, Oundle

Church with Norman origins, the extant building is largely of 13th century date with 15th century and later work and restorations. Good windows of the earlier periods. The south porch is in the Perpendicular style and was built by Robert Wyatt and his wife, Joan circa 1485. The Decorated octagonal spire was rebuilt in 1634, and the top 14 feet were rebuilt again in 1934. Part of a pre-Conquest grave slab was found in the grounds in 1904.

{1} Scanty remains of Norman church, most of rest is C13th, with C15th and later work and restorations. Good windows of the earlier periods. South porch is perpendicular, and was built by Robert Wyatt and his wife, Joan c.1485. Decorated octagonal spire, rebuilt in 1634, and the top-most 14ft rebuilt in 1934. C15th brass eagle lectern. C18th font. Interior was restored in 1864 by Sir G Gilbert Scott, R. A. Window glass by Clayton and Bell of 1864 and Sir Ninian Comper, 1918. All the Listed Buildings on the west side of North Street form a group.

{4} It is uncertain whether the church lies on the site of Wilfrid’s 8th century monastic church or indeed if, more likely, it is on the site of the 10th century re-founded monastery. An important minster church is likely to have existed on the present site from at least the 10th century, the ecclesiastical organisation being expected to some degree to mirror that of the secular ‘eight hundreds’ (see above). The parish in the 12th century still encompassed the chapel at Churchfield and those at Ashton and Elmington, while the importance of the church was also maintained through the medieval period as the head of a deanery.
The building is largely of the 13th century and later, but it has evidence of the 12th century. It almost certainly lies on the site of a much earlier church and there is a late Saxon decorated grave slab built into the fabric of the church, which may relate to such an earlier cemetery and church on the site. It is described in detail by the RCHME . The main additions after the 13th century were the tower, started in the 14th and completed in the 15th, the clerestory of the 14th century, and the south porch in the late 15th century.
The wealth of the town in the medieval period is perhaps reflected in the construction of at least three chapels within the church in the late medieval period and the establishment of two guild, the second in 1499.
In 1332 the rights of the manor of Oundle are defined and this specifies that to its church belonged the chapels in Ashton, Elmington and Churchfield, confirming the ecclesiastical dependency of these chapels to the old minster at Oundle. The failure to mention any other chapels in Oundle itself may not mean that other chapels did not exist at this time.
Though restored by Scott in 1862-4, the archaeology of the church appears, from limited recording action conducted in the 1980s, to have reasonable survival of archaeological deposits.

{5} A block of masonry exposed below the existing north east buttress of the north chancel chapel may be part of an earlier, larger buttress. It ocnsisted of pieces of rubble-limestone within a yellow clay matric which was further associated with the coursed and mortared limestone foundations of the chapel's east wall. This wall arreared to be continuous with the early buttress and showed signs of localised burning above and below the modern ground surface. A sherd of medieval pottery was recovered nearby.

{7} The present parish church is believed to be largely of 13th century construction but there is evidence that it incorporates a major earlier building. The preceding 12th century structure is likely to have been a cruciform building consisting of chancel, aisles nave, and north and south transverse chapels.
Reordering in 1991/92 involved the removal of the floors for heating and perimeter evaporation voids:
The north transverse chapel: the pre-13th century north wall of the chapel ran in line with the present north wall of the nave.
The south transverse chapel: the base of a limestone wall lay in line with the south wall of the south aisle.
The main body of the church: evidence was found of several walls which formed the outline of the early church. The walls were between 1m-1.5m wide (more description). Pits were also seen; some were investigated but contained no finds. There was evidence of a possible post hole. 8 sherds of residual early-middle Saxon pottery and several sherds of Roman pottery were found.
The chancel: a limestone rubble wall was seen below at least two later floor levels.
The north transverse chapel: a 15th/16th century brick-lined vault was seen beneath the floor which had been backfilled in the Victorian period.
The south transverse chapel: the top of a 13th century rib-vaulted ossuary was seen beneath the floor, along with a Victorian ventilation system
The main body of the church: at the western end many shallow graves were seen. There was no evidence of earlier flooring apart from occasional fragments of glazed floor tile and possibly an earlier plaster floor. A brick-lined vault was also seen.
The chancel: at least two earlier floor levels, of stone and plaster were seen. The construction of a vault in 1734 cut the southern side of the sanctuary floor.
In the 13th century the church achieved its present form: north and south aisles were added, of the same width as the transverse chapels which were then extended at both north and south to perpetuate the cruciform shape. A vaulted ossuary was constructed beneath the south transverse chapel at the same time. The chancel may also have been extended, but the length of the nave appears to have been the same. The west tower was added in the 14th century.

Previous reordering in December 1865 was recorded: the galleries and high backed pews were removed, the plaster stripped from the walls, and the floor covered with a bed of concrete 6 inches deep, with the old monumental stones being raised to the new level.

The siting of the church compares with the locations of Late Saxon Churches of Nassington, Geddington and Brigstock etc. At Oundle, excavation has shown that the pre 13th century thick walls formed a square at the crossing betokens a central tower. The unexpectly thin wall of the pre-13th century transverse chapel would make it unlikey to be of Norman or later origins. Though less secure as evidence, the pre-Conquest grave slab found below the transverse chapel should be noted.

{17} Traces of walls pre-dating the existing arcades and the remains of wall footings to the north and west of the crossing. A small quantity of unstratified early/middle Saxon pottery was recovered.

{18} Finds. A Saxon decorated slab with plaitwork decoration, found in the crypt under the south transept.

{21} Sketch of window, sketch of layout, photo, engraving, sketch of pillars, drawing of spire, also a pamphlet of lithographic views in Oundle and Fotheringhay which includes views of the church;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 1/34 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H16 p.25 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<4> Foard G.; Ballinger J.;, 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Oundle, Section 3.2.1 Church of St Peter (Report). SNN102637.

<5> Cadman G.E., 1988, Summary report of a watching brief at St Peter's Churchyard, Oundle, 1988, (checked) (Unpublished Report). SNN51834.

<6> Pike, A (ed), 1989, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (19), 19/32 (checked) (Journal). SNN100659.

<7> Johnston A.G., 1994, Excavations in Oundle, Northamptonshire: Work Carried Out at Stoke Doyle Road 1979, Blackpot Lane 1985 and St. Peter's Church 1991, 25/110-115 (checked) (Article). SNN40470.

<8> 1865, Illustrated London News, p.584 (unchecked) (Article). SNN73954.

<9> Woodiwiss, J., 1991, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN48915.

<10> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall (Database). SNN102279.

<11> Flesher J., 1800, Oundle (cum Polebrook), (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN104549.

<12> Clarke G., 1850, Oundle Church, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN104548.

<13> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches, Oundle, St Peter (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<14> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.407-10 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<15> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.95-99 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<16> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.361-3 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<17> Pike, A (ed), 1992, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (22), 22/34 (checked) (Journal). SNN100613.

<18> 1905, The Reliquary and Illustrated Archaeologist, p.125-6 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN47122.

<19> Historic England, St Peter's Church, Oundle, BF107382 (Archive). SNN115154.

<20> Historic England, View of the interior of St Peter's Church, Oundle, OP22459 (Archive). SNN115155.

<21> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/205/1-7 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 11:42AM