Building record 1818/1 - Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

12th-14th centuries, restored 19th century. Squared coursed limestone and ironstone with ashlar spire and lead roofs. Nave, chancel, north aisle and chapel, north and south porches and west tower.

{1} Church. C12, C13, C14, restored C19. Squared coursed limestone and ironstone with ashlar spire and lead roofs. Nave, chancel, north aisle and chapel, north and south porches and west tower. South elevation of chancel of 3-window range of tall 3-light Decorated windows with flowing tracery. South chapel of 2-window range of 2-light square-head windows with C19 renewed tracery. Lean-to roof with plain ashlar parapets. 3-light, square-head east window to south chapel. South elevation of nave of 2-win ow range of tall 3-light Decorated windows with flowing tracery. Shallow gabled roof with plain ashlar parapet. C14 gabled south porch between window range has roll-moulded outer arch and vaulted roof. Late C12 inner arch is stepped and has nail head decoration and one order of shafts. North aisle of 3-window range with 2- and three-light Perpendicular windows to left and one 2-light C19 window to right. Wall to left of centre breaks forward slightly. Lean-to roof with ashlar gable parapets and corbel table decorated with faces. Perpendicular porch to right of centre has roll-moulded outer arch with ballflower decoration and 4 orders of shafts, some now missing. Stiff-leaf finial. Gabled roof with plain ashlar parpets. C13 inner arch with roll moulding and one order of shafts. North nave clerestory of 5-window range of 2-light windows with plate tracery. North chancel clerestory of 2-window range to right, of 2-light square-head windows. West tower of 2 stages, the lower stage is su -divided. Tall lancet to west face of lower stage has stiff-leaf decoration at head. Broach spire on corbel table has 3 tiers of lucarnes. First tier has 2-light bell-chamber openings with Y-tracery and one order of shafts. Interior: 5-bay nave arcade to north of double chamfered arches with quatrefoil piers. Octagonal respond to east end forms cluster with responds to chancel arcade. West end has no respond. Double chamfered chancel arch with stepped octagonal responds and tall triple chamfe ed tower arch with 3 orders of shafts. 3-bay chancel arcade of double chamfered arches with circular piers and octagonal responds. C19 roof structures with moulded corbels to chancel. Piscina with ogee head to right of altar has similar triple sedilia alongside, with mouchettes in the spandrels. Remains of double aumbry with trefoil heads to left of piscina. Base of stone screen between chancel arcades. C19 stone pulpit with marble shafts. Octagonal font on shafted base. Plank north door is probably C15 with strap hinges. Monuments: various C18 and C19 marble tablets in belfry. Rev. Francis Sawyer Parris, C18 style monument, south wall, has circular tablet on broad obelisk with shelf below, holding books and an ink well. Joseph Beelse, died 1807, north wall. Black and white tablet by Coles with foliage surround and urn above.

{10} Undated photo.

{11} [Former list description] Church of St. Mary
A stone church with lead roofs and plain parapets consisting of chancel, nave, N. aisle, N. and S. porches, and W. tower with spire. In the chancel the three windows on the S. wall and E. window are Perpendicular The Sedilia and piscina are also Perpendicular, the triple sedilia have ogee heads in rectangular surround with cusped spandrels. Two seats have poppyhead ends.
The nave arcades have ironstone is some of the arches. The font is octagonal. The Early English N. doorway has an old door and the N. porch is Decorated. C.18 wall monuments have been moved and are now under the tower. The W. tower has 2 stages and spire with 3 tiers of dormers. The church was 'thoroughly restored' in 1863.

{12} (SP 9860 7512) Ch
('St Mary's' - personal knowledge)

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 2/127 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.70-71 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<4> ISHAM G., THE PARISH CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS, (unchecked) (Book). SNN54975.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.189 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<6> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.384-85 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<7> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.42-44 (unchecked) (Series). SNN10247.

<8> WATSON K M, 1980, RINGSTEAD PARISH CHURCH, (unchecked) (Book). SNN55735.

<9> DRAWINGS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN56593.

<10> Photographs of buildings in Ringstead (Photographs). SNN113044.

<11> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOe(HHR) Dist. of Oundle and Thrapstan R.D. Northants. April 1963 114 (Report). SNN112993.

<12> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1958 (Map). SNN112944.

<13> Historic England, Undated, St Marys Church, Ringstead, BF107396 (Archive). SNN113557.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 1:17PM