Building record 2285/1/1 - Church of All Saints, Aldwincle

13th to 15th century church, which was restored in 1863, and 1893. Squared coursed limestone with ashlar tower and lead and Colleyweston slate roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, north vestry, south chantry chapel and west tower.The church has been gutted and is no longer used for public worhsip, although it is maintained by the Church of England authorities.

{1} C15th tower and chantry chapel, the rest of the church is earlier; now disused; quoted ngr should read TL001815.

{9} Church, now redundant. C13 and C15 restored C19. Squared coursed limestone with ashlar tower and lead and Colleyweston slate roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, north vestry, south chantry chapel and west tower. South elevation of chancel is of one-window range with a tall 2-light Perpendicular window. Gabled roof with ashlar gable parapets. 2-bay chantry chapel is attached to left of chancel. 2-window range of 3-light windows with 2-centred arch heads and hollow reveals. Window to left has a high cill with a priest door below with 4-centre arch head and rosette label stops. Rosettes also in the spandrels. 2-stage buttresses between windows, terminating as pinnacles; only south-east corner pinnacle remains. Lean-to roof with castellated ashlar parapet. 4-light east window has hollow reveals and rosette label stops. The walls of the chantry chapel are rendered with pink coloured, scored, render. C19 four-light east window to chancel has plate tracery with cusped roundel. North elevation of c ancel of 3 bays, 2-window range. Tall 2-light Perpendicular window to right and C19 two-light window, with plate tracery, to centre. Bay to left has lean-to vestry with 2-light windows in north and east elevations. South aisle of 3-bays, 2-window range, of 3-light Perpendicular windows with 4-centred arch heads. Lean-to roof with castellated ashlar parpet. 2-light west window has reticulated tracery. Shallow gabled porch to left, has double-chamfered arch with 2-centred head and corbelled res onds. North aisle of 3 bays, 2-window range, to left, of tall 3-light Perpendicular windows, with 4-centred arch head. North door to right has 2-centred arch head and roll moulded surround. All openings have carved label stops. Buttresses at corners. Lean-to roof has castellated ashlar parapet. 2-light east and west windows have reticulated tracery. Nave clerestory of 3-bay, 2-window range of 2-light, square-head, windows, in outer bays. Shallow gabled roof with castellated ashlar parapets. Fin Perpendicular west tower of 4 stages with moulded plinth. Shallow pilasters at corners terminate as crocketed, octagonal, pinnacles. West doorway has 2-centred arch head set in square surround. Moulded reveals with crocketed hood mould supported by single order of shafts. Quatrefoils and cusping in spandrels. 3-light west window to second stage has 2-centre arch head rising into third stage, with crocketed hood mould. The lower part of the window is blank. Ogee-head niche above window in third stage. Pairs of tall 2-light square-head bell-chamber openings, with transoms and cuspings, to each face of upper stage. Double-hollow reveals and lattice brickwork panels to lights. String course forms hood mould to window. String course between stages are decorated at corners with human heads and animals. Quatrefoil frieze above bell-chamber openings. Central gargoyles to each face are flanked by smaller carved heads. Gargoyles at corners and castellated ashlar parapet. Interior: 3-bay nave arcade of C13 double-chamfered arches with circular piers and corbelled responds. Circular abaci, some with nailhead decoration. Double-chamfered chancel arch on cone corbels with nailhead decoration. Triple-chamfered tower arch. Moulded arches from south aisle and chancel to south chapel. Arch from chancel has cluster shaft responds with carved shields attached to capitals. Original roof structure to nave and north aisle, others are C19. Piscina in south wall of chantry chapel has ogee head with 2 quatrefoils in spandrels. Remains of piscina in north aisle. Octagonal font supported on cluster shaft. Jacobean communion rail. Fragments of wall painting depicting St. Christopher in nave. Royal hatchment flanked by Ten Commandments, above chancel arch. Spinacre family hatchment in chancel. Monument: William Aldwyncle died 1463, brass figure in chancel floor. Inscribed tablet 1655 in chancel floor probably to Culpin family. John Pykering died 1637, remains of chest tomb relocated from churchyard to north aisle. John Pykering, C17 tablet, surround only remains. Daniel Walsh, died 1707, inscribed tablet in chancel floor. Various C18 tablets to Spinacre family in first floor of chantry chapel. Stained glass: fragments of medieval glass in aisle and chantry chapel windows. Late C19 east window. Chantry chapel founded by Elizabeth Chambre 1489. Pykering family were ancestors of John Dryden, poet, who was born at Aldwincle in 1631.

{13} Undated photo;

{14} Two drawings from south chantry.

{15} This church has been gutted and is no longer in use for public worship. See photograph.

{16} Although the Church is no longer used for public worship it is wholly maintained by the Church of England authorities [Not to be published as an antiquity at present].

<1> 1994, Visit Churches in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire, (checked) (Pamphlet). SNN33492.

<2> , 1979, NOTES ON ALL SAINTS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN60113.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77384.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.210-11 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<5> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<6> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.166-67 (unchecked) (Series). SNN10247.

<7> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 78 (Book). SNN111989.

<8> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<9> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 4/26 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<10> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G08 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<11> 1816, Estate map of Aldwincle, (unchecked) (Map). SNN102371.

<12> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.164 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<13> Photographs of buildings in Aldwincle (Photographs). SNN111847.

<14> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/8/2-3 (Archive). SNN115.

<15> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 19-SEP-69 (Note). SNN111452.

<16> Annotated Record Map, LS 25" EM 04 B (G Oakley 13.12.74) (Map). SNN112961.

<17> Historic England, Undated, All Saints Church, Aldwincle, BF052040 (Archive). SNN115832.

Record last edited

Dec 22 2023 12:25PM