Building record 2235/1/1 - Church of St. Mary & All Saints

Late 12th and late 13th centuries, chancel 1864, church restored 1875. Squared coursed limestone with ashlar chancel and spire. Slate and lead roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, south porch, north vestry and west tower.

{1} The church contains work of the late C12th; the first recorded institution was in 1221.

{2} Church. Late C12, late C13, chancel 1864, church restored 1875. Squared coursed limestone with ashlar chancel and spire. Slate and lead roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, south porch, north vestry and west tower. South elevation of chancel of 3-window range of 2-light windows with buttresses between. Steep gabled roof with gable parapets, kneelers and finial. 4-light east window with shafts, cusped circles and carved label stops. North elevation of chancel is similar to south. South aisle of 3 bays, 2 window range of 2-light windows with quatrefoil circles, that to right is late C13, that to left is restored C19. Lean-to roof with plain ashlar parapet and 2 small gargoyles. Similar 3-light east window with trefoil circles. C13 gabled porch in centre bay has single-chamfered outer doorway with nail-head decoration and 2 small shields, with Tresham arms, to either side. Inner doorway is late C12 with single order of shafts with waterleaf capitals and zig-zag decoration to arch. North aisle of 3 bays; one 3-light window to left has 4-centred arch head and carved label stops. Lean-to roof with plain ashlar parapets. 3-light east window with intersecting tracery. C19 lean-to vestry in centre bay has 2-light square-head window. Decorated nave clerestory is a 2-window range of 2-light square-head windows with cusped lozenges in the tracery. Shallow gabled roof with plain ashlar parapet and 2 small gargoyles. Plain octagonal flue to north-east corner. Late C13 west tower of 3 stages with plinth and 2-stage clasping buttresses. West doorway with 2 orders of filleted shafts and arch mouldings. Lancet window above. Small lancet window to north, south and west faces of second stage. 2-light bell-chamber openings to each face of upper stage have Y-tracery and cluster shafts. Corbel table and broach spire with 2 tiers of lucarnes. Interior: 3-bay nave arcade of C13 double-chamfered arches with octagonal piers, and polygonal responds. One capital to south has nailhead decoration; ca itals to north, restored C19. Double-chamfered chancel arch with semi-circular responds and double-chamfered tower arch with plain responds and flanking single-stage buttresses. C19 nave and chancel roofs with arched-braced trusses and carved stone corbels. Aisle roofs may contain some earlier timbers. C19 reredos to altar has cusped circle, and lancet decoration. Piscina with cusped head in south aisle. Octagonal font with octagonal shaft having decorated band at base. C19 floor tiles. Choir stalls given by Lord Lilford late C19 have poppy heads representing birds and animals and symbolising Lord Lilfords ornithological interest. C19 stained glass east windows of chancel and south aisle, and south windows of chancel; north oval windows of chancel are painted. Monuments: John Hewitt, died 1799, and tablet in north aisle Ann Jenour, died 1839, marble tablet alongside by Swan of Oundle. Various C19 brass tablets relating to the Powys family of Lilford Hall (q.v.). Thomas Littleton Sulby died 1878, brass plaque in north aisle indicates that he was agent for Lord Lilford and Architect for the restoration of the Church 1874.

{5} The chancel pavement includes tiles with bird and animal motifs and could well be the work of Lord Alwyne Compton.

{8} Undated photo;

<1> BROWN A.E., 1996, Earthworks at Pilton, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN47721.

<2> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 16/102 (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<3> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G09 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<4> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.372 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> Pearson L., 2003, Gazeteer of British Tile and Architectural Ceramic Sites: County Draft, Northamptonshire, p.3 (unchecked) (Gazetteer). SNN103233.

<6> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.132 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<7> Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society, 2011, TACS (Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society) Location Database, (unchecked) (Gazetteer). SNN107648.

<8> Photographs of buildings in Pilton (Photographs). SNN113561.

<9> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1958 (Map). SNN112944.

<10> Historic England, St Mary and All Saints Church, Pilton, BF107385 (Archive). SNN114815.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 12:50PM