Building record 2315/1/3 - Church of All Saints

Probably 12th century origins, mainly 13th century with 15th century alterations, restored 1808, 1830 and 1870-1. Squared coursed limestone with Collyweston slate and lead roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, transepts, south porch and west tower. A Saxon cross fragment was discovered during 19th century restoration.

{1} Church. Probably C12 origins, mainly C13 with C15 alterations, restored 1808, 1830 and 1870-1. Squared coursed limestone with Colleyweston slate and lead roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, transepts, south porch and west tower. South elevation of chancel is a 3-window range with one-, 2- and 3-light square-head windows. Single-light window to far left has carved label stops, other windows have un-cut label stops. 2-stage buttresses with cusped gablets to centre and right. Priest door to left. Shallow ean-to projection below right window. Shallow gabled roof with ashlar parapets, finial and large truncated pinnacle, with corbel below, at end. 4-light square-head east window. North elevation of chancel is a 3-window range similar to the south but with tall low-side window to far right. South elevation of south transept has 4-light window with cusped Y-tracery and 3 spherical triangles above. Steeply gabled roof with Colleyweston slates. 2-light square-head east window. North elevation of no th transept has similar window to south transept, restored C19. Similar gabled roof and 2-light east window. South aisle of 2 bays, one-window range, with one Perpendicular 3-light window to right under 4-centred arch head. Lean-to roof with plain ashlar parapets. Similar 3-light west window. Gabled porch to left bay has moulded outer doorway with 2-centred arch head and semi-circular responds, and moulded inner doorway with niche above. North aisle is of 2 bays similar to south aisle with 3- ight Perpendicular window to left, restored C19. North door to right, with 2-centred arch head, roll-moulding and one order of shafts. Lean-to roof with plain ashlar parapet. Similar 3-light west window, restored C19. Nave has steeply gabled roof with Colleyweston slates. 3-stage west tower with 2-stage clasping buttresses to first stage. 3-light west window with cusping and spherical triangles, all restored C19; original carved label stops. Single lancets to north and south face of second stag and small roundel with cusping to west face. 2-light bell-chamber openings, to each face of upper stage, have Y-tracery and cusping. Corbel table with plain ashlar parapet above and crocketed pinnacles at corners. Small pyramid roof with Colleyweston slates and wrought-iron weathervane. Interior: 3-bay nave arcade of double-chamfered and hollowed arches with circular piers. Double chamfered chancel arch with octagonal responds and triple-chamfered and hollowed tower arch with hollowing carri d through the capitals of the responds. Double-chamfered arches with semi-circular responds, at each pier spacing. Shallow arched recesses to east wall of transept. C19 roof structures. Piscina and sedilia to right of altar with triple shafts, fillets and head-stops. Piscina in south transept. Octagonal font with panelled cover. Monuments: Sir Robert Vere died 1249, effigy of cross-legged knight in recess with shallow-moulded arch and shafts to right of altar. William West died 1390 and wife, 2 brass figures, with children alongside, on east wall of north transept. Various C17 and C18 inscribed tablets to nave and chancel floor. Stained glass: fragments of pre-C19 glass in east window of south transept. C19 stained glass to south-west chancel window, and east window of north transept. East window is by Kempe. Clock in tower c.1740, given by Lady Elizabeth Germain of Drayton House has striking mechanism only and no face. The cruciform plan probably originates from the C12 church. A stone inscribed with a Saxon cross was discovered during the C19 restoration. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.420; V.C.H.: Northamptonshire, Vol.3, p.245).

{3} The Church of All Saints, Sudborough, was entirely rebuilt in the second half of the 13thc, replacing an earlier building and has work also of the 15thc. It was repaired and restored at various times in the 19thc; in the 1891 restoration two stones of an AS cross were found under the NE pier. They were replaced, but covered with cement, which obliterated the carving.

{7} Undated photo;

{10} Ground plan of church by W Hensman, 1831 and another by JC Traylen, 1891.

{11} Small pieces of medieval glass survive in two south transept windows.

{12} Note on effigy in chancel;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 10/149 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G08 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 246-8 (Series). SNN100370.

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

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77383.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Sudborough (Photographs). SNN113446.

<8> Bloxham M.H., 1878, On The Medieval Sepulchral Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.247 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN107097.

<9> Historic England, Undated, All Saints Church, Sudborough, BF107407 (Archive). SNN115798.

<10> Lambeth Palace Library, Incorporated Church Building Society Archive, ICBS01273 and ICBS09499 (Digital archive). SNN115761.

<11> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 274 (Book). SNN101533.

<12> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/255/1 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 1:04PM