Building record 883/1/1 - Church of St. Mary The Virgin

Church with an early 12th century south wall, the west tower and north aisle were added in the 13th century and the nave rebuilt and south porch added in the 14-15th century. The chancel was added in 1850 by Philip Hardwick and the church was restored in 1878-80 by William Butterfield. Built of ironstone and limestone rubble and coursed squared ironstone, with tile roofs. The church consists of a chancel, nave, north aisle, south porch and west tower.

{1} Church. Early C12 south wall, C13 west tower and north aisle, nave rebuilt and south porch added C14/C15, chancel of 1850 by Philip Hardwick; church restored 1878-80 by William Butterfield. Ironstone and limestone rubble and coursed squared ironstone, tile roofs. Chancel nave, north aisle, south porch, west tower. Two-bay chancel has 3-light geometrical east window and coupled lancets to south, and vestry to north with hollow-chamfered north door and 2-light east window with plate tracery. Herringbone masonry to south wall, 2 small round-arched windows, one to south-east, the other visible inside and blocked by porch, tall 3-light windows either side of porch with intersecting tracery to east, reticulated to west, and clerestory on north side with three 2-light windows with straight heads. Two-storey south porch has chamfered rib vault and doorway with chamfered inner arch on polygonal responds, outer arches dying into wall, blocked 1-light above and to east and west has double hollow-chamfered arch. North aisle has renewed 3-light Perpendicular east window, blocked double hollow-chamfered north door and lancet windows to north and at west end, that to north-east blocked; heads mostly renewed. 3-stage west tower with angle buttresses to lowest stage, chamfered west door with lancet above, a lancet to south side of middle stage and 2-light bell openings of coupled lancets under one arch. Plain stone-coped parapet on corbel table with cor pinnacles and low pyramidal lead roof with weathervane. Interior has C19 stained glass east windows to chancel and north aisle and in tower. Chamfered chancel arch on polygonal responds. Rood screen with traceried lights given to church in 1440 by Sir John Cressy. Nave has 4-bay arcade with double hollow-chamfered arches on octagonal piers and polygonal responds to east and west. Triple-chamfered tower arch, inner arch on polygonal responds. Circular Norman font carved with linked beaded framing foliage patterns. C19 roofs throughout except possibly for some elements of north aisle roof. Important set of monuments including 3 brasses: John Cressy d.1414 and his wife; William Wylde d.1442 and wife; Bridget Wyrley d.1637. Purbeck marble recumbent effigy of a knight with crossed legs wearing band mail - a rare type of armour - thought to be of Sir Robert Keynes d.1305 (Pevsner). Early C14 tomb recess in north aisle with oak effigy of another lady on tomb chest in ont with mourners and angels supporting pillow on which her head rests, said to be Wentiliana de Keynes d.1376, grand-daughter of Hawise. Alabaster tomb chest with effigy of Sir John Cressy d.1444, with angels supporting arms either side and at west end. C17 alabaster wall monument to John Wyrley. Large C18 marble wall monument to Henry Benson d.1725 in Smith of Warwick style with inscription framed by round-headed arch with keyblock flanked by Ionic pilasters supporting entablature and pediment framing cartouche of arms.

{8} St Mary's Church, Dodford consists of a nave, chancel, north aisle, west tower, south porch and vestry. The stone building was probably constructed in the Norman period (evidence of henrringbone construction detail on the south wall of the nave). During the 13th century the nave was lengthened, the chancel rebuilt and the north aisle and west tower were constructed. During the 14th century the two storey proch was constructed and the whole church was updated with new north arcade, north and south doorways, chancel and tower arches, south windows of the nave and the clerestory. There were a number of changes to the church during the period 1879 to 1884. Further restorations have occurred since 1980.

{16} Drawings of font, photo of font, drawings of shields and effigies, photo of herringbone masonry;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/47 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F06 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.358-62 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.55-58 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<5> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.187-8 (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> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN10247.

<8> Markham P, 1997, St Mary's Church, Dodford, Northamptonshire: Architectural Survey, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN62527.

<9> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, 42 p.47-48 (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<10> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77384.

<11> Photographs of buildings in Dodford (Photographs). SNN111676.

<12> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<13> Bloxham M.H., 1878, On The Medieval Sepulchral Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.250-51+58 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN107097.

<14> King's College, London, 2017, A corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland, Site 7498 (Website). SNN110894.

<15> Historic England, St Mary the Virgin's Church, Dodford, BF107299 (Archive). SNN115185.

<16> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/92/1-8 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 3:51PM