Building record 1679/4/1 - Chichele College, South & East Ranges & Attached Foundations

{1} Former college. C.1422. Regular coursed and squared coursed limestone with Colleyweston slate roof. Originally quadrangle plan, south and parts of north, east and west ranges remain. 2 storeys. East range and gable of south range abutting road is a 3-window range at first floor level with a 2-light window with cusping and hollow reveals to left gable. Crocketted hood mould over. 2-and 3-light square-head windows to right also have hood moulds. Single-light
square-head window to ground floor centre with small single-light window to left. Right range was the gatehouse and has gateway with 4-centred head, roll moulding, quatrefoils with shields in the spandrels and hood moulds with quatre foil decoration to label stops. 3 canopied niches above are re-decorated with crocketted pinnacles. 2 blocked openings to centre and right. Chamfered string course between floors. Carved heads to either side of gable window are probably reset gargoyles. Ashlar gable parapets. Elevation of south range to left of elevation abutting road is now a 3-window range with large C15 two-light square-head window to right of centre. Leaded casement to first floor far right
under wood lintel and casements to ground and first floor left also under wood lintel. Gabled porch to far left has datestone D/1914/L. Rebuilt lateral stack to centre also has datestone 1914. Ashlar gable parapet and stone stack at end. Elevation of south range to quadrangle has a 2-window range to right with one C15 two-light square-head window to first floor far right and 2 similar single-light windows to ground floor below, all with cusping and hood moulds.
Casement windows under wood lintels to ground and first floor, right of centre. C15 doorway to right of centre has 2-centred arch head, roll moulding, decorated spandrels and hood mould. Gable to left has early C20 three-light stone mullion windows to ground and first floor, that to ground floor has a transom. Rear wall of gatehouse is attached to far left of the quadrangle elevation of south range and is the internal elevation of the features described for the gatehouse abutting the road. Attached foundations originally formed part of north, east and west ranges. Interior of south range not inspected but noted as having full-height chamber known as the chapel at the east end and ground floor rooms to west end with ceiling beams; part of first floor oversails into the chapel. The college was founded by Archbishop Henry Chichele and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Thomas of Canterbury, and St. Edward the Confessor. It provided for 8 secular canons, 8 clerks and 6 choristers. It was dissolved in 1542. Chichele College, south and east ranges form a group with Chichele College north range and attached foundations (q.v.), Chichele College, group of foundations (q.v.) and Chichele College, perimeter wall gateway and attached foundations (q.v.). Chichele College is scheduled as an ancient monument and is under the guardianship of H.B.M.C.E.
(Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.256).

{4} Standing building. Chapel of the medieval college. Much of the south chapel range still survives, with indications of there having been a large east window.

{5} Six undated photos;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 18/33 (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.

<4> FOARD G.R., Oral Report to SMR, (checked) (Oral Report). SNN50834.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Higham Ferrers (Photographs). SNN115452.

Record last edited

Sep 27 2023 2:53PM