Building record 2940/1/1 - St. Andrew's Church

12th-15th century. Squared coursed lias with lead roof. Nave, aisles, chancel and west tower.

{1} Church. C12 to C15. Squared coursed lias with lead roof. Nave, aisles, chancel and west tower. Chancel, south elevation, 2-window range of 2-light Perpendicular windows with small south door between. East window similar of 3 lights. Gabled roof with ashlar parapet and finials. North aisle extending to full length of chancel was built by John Chambre between 1494 and 1505 with two 3-light simple perpendicular style windows and similar 4-light east window. South aisle: 3-window range of two 2-light windows with reticulated tracery and one of 3 lights with 4-centred head. C12 south door between windows 1 and 2 from left has zig-zag decoration, carved capitals and double shafts. Lean-to roof with ashlar parapets. North Aisle: 3-window range of 2- light windows with intersecting tracery. 3-light window with 4-centred head to west. Lean-to roof with ashlar parapets. Gabled porch between window 1 and 2 from right is probably C19. Nave: 4-window range, 2 windows to left are 2- light square headed with reticulated tracery, those to right are 2-light with 4-centred arched heads. Gabled roof with ashlar parapets. West tower of 3 stages, late C12, has west entrance with zig-zag decoration, moulded capitals and shafts. C12 triple arch above. Second stage has 5-bay archade with detached shafts. Third stage has double Early English bell openings with semi-circular arch over and pointed arches flanking with similar arrangement to each façade. Corbel table with battlements and C14 recessed spire with 2 stages of lucarnes. Interior: Chancel: 2-bay arcade of chamfered arches into north chapel with octagonal pier. Double chamfered chancel arch, shallow C19 kingpost roof, 4- bay nave arcade of C12 semi circular arches on north side with step and chamfer having square abaci, capital with upright leaves and circular piers, south arcade of C19 of double chamfered arches on circular piers, C12 tower arch and shallow king post roof. 2 arcaded tomb recesses in south aisle and one in north. Stained glass, east window by Powell 1899. Monuments: brass under organ, to Robert Powell and family 1464. Tomb chest with quatrefoils between east chancel arcade and similar with trefoiled panels has recumbent alabaster figure of Sir John Swinford 1371 (original iron gridle alongside). Piscina and sedilia in chancel. Tall niche with ogee head and foliated finials on east wall of south aisle. Many marble tables, 2 similar to Francis and Elizabeth Beynan late C18 by William Cox, both with cherubs head set against obelisk. Pews C19 have traceried ends. Font, octagonal C13.

{3} New flooring was laid in three parts of the church, and in these areas the existing pews were removed and the old timber floors taken up to lay new drainage pipes and floor surfaces. Beneath the timber floor the loam contained numerous small fragments of modern ceramic materials and stone chippings. A jetton dating to the C16th/C17th was also recovered. There were no earlier archaeological deposits.

{4} Undated photo, also two photos dated December 1978.

{5} [Former list description] A sandstone church dating from C.12 and C.14. The tower is early and the 2 upper stages are arcaded and there is a later limestone spire. On the West side of the tower there is a recessed door with zig-zag moulding. The clerestoried nave has 2 arcades of 5 bays the North arcade has semi-circular arches while the South arcade is C.14. The chancel dates from C.14 also the South aisle and much of the North aisle. There are 2 tombs C.14 in the South aisle and in the North chantry there is a tomb of Sir John Swynford, died 1371. It is a low
altar tomb of alabaster with a fine carved effigy. The church was repaired and restored 1846 and 1847 by Sir Gilbert Scott, R.A. Churchyard cross, base and remains of plain shaft.

{10} The remains of the medieval glass in the east window of the chancel north chapel are from a series of shields of arms of the Ardern/Chambre families and associated alliances.

{11} Notes on arms and shields, sketch of pillar in arcade, sketch of tomb effigy, lithograph of font;

<1> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, 41 p.49-51 (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 16/247 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G01 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> Leigh D., 2013, A Programme of Archaeological Observation, Investigation and Recording at St Andrew’s Church, Spratton, Northamptonshire, p.6 (checked) (Report). SNN109913.

<4> Photographs of buildings in Spratton (Photographs). SNN113178.

<5> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOE(HHR) Dist. of Brixworth R.D. Northants. Aug. 1950 45 (Report). SNN112993.

<6> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, MHLG 1950 1958/11/A 45 (Report). SNN112993.

<7> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 577-579 (Book). SNN111989.

<8> Historic England, St Andrew's Church, Spratton, BF044026 (Archive). SNN115390.

<9> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<10> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 176 (Book). SNN101533.

<11> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/242/2-5 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 2:40PM