Building record 1679/4/10 - Chichele College foundations

Foundations to former college buildings. C.1422. Coursed rubble. Originally quadrangle plan, south and part of north, east and west ranges remain.

{1} Foundations to former college buildings. C.1422. Coursed rubble. Originally quadrangle plan, south and part of north, east and west ranges remain. Wall bases originally formed part of north, east and west ranges. The west range originally contained the hall. Chichele College was founded by Archbishop Henry Chichele. Chichele College, group of foundations, forms part of a group with Chichele College south and west ranges and attached foundations (q.v.), Chichele College north range and attached foundations (q.v.) and Chichele College perimeter wall and attached foundations (q.v.). Chichele College is scheduled as an ancient monument and under the guardianship of H.B.M.C.E.
(Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.256).

{5} Chichele College. The remains of the college, which are now in a very ruinous condition, stand in the main street of the town, north-west of the church. In 1543 on the dissolution of the religious houses the chaplains and clerks were dispersed and the revenues taken by the crown. The buildings fell into ruin 2-3 centuries ago - used first as 'Saracens's Head' inn and then as a farm. In 1910 they came back into hands of Duchy of Lancaster and in 1948 they were transferred to Ministry of Works. The building is scheduled as an ancient monument and is available for public viewing with appointment. There have been a number of alterations to the structure as it has changed use - there is for example a porch dated 1914 - in addition to a number of internal changes. Film 4, photo 4-17.

{5}{6} The College took the form of a closed courtyard with the ranges of buildings around the courtyard including a chapel and kitchen. Reference is also made to a mill, presumably a horse malt mill, within the College. The layout is clearly depicted by Norden in 1591 with buildings on all four sides and a formal garden to the rear. The College was described briefly in circa 1720 when largely ruined and in use as an inn called the Saracen's Head. However the ranges of buildings still stood on the four sides of the courtyard in 1737, though most had been demolished by 1789. Little more remains than the front of the gatehouse and part of the south range in which the chapel lay. Ruined walls of the other ranges survived in the early 18th century. In the early 19th century the College was a butcher's shop. There was restoration of some walls and roofing in 1914. Excavations were conducted on the College in 1966 by Thompson revealing various foundations.

{7} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 17+18/35 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G07 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.256 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> Foard G.; Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Higham Ferrers (Medieval - Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100543.

<6> COLBECK J., 1737, Higham Ferrers, 1737 (NRO Map 1004), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100548.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Higham Ferrers (Photographs). SNN115452.

Record last edited

Sep 13 2023 2:19PM