Building record 638/7/1 - No. 7 New Street

Dated 1600, formerly part of Daventry Grammar School, later a Roman Catholic Church, known as Church of Our Lady of Charity and St Augustine, now offices.

{1} Dated 1600, formerly a Grammar School, later a Roman Catholic Church, now offices. Ashlar dressed course rubble, tiled roof with stone coped front gable. 2 storeys, floor and eaves bands. Large pointed arched 1st floor windows, 3-light with stone mullions. Side elevation 4-light windows with small chamfered arches.

{4,5}Free Grammar School, Litchfield Street (New Street) and North Street.
Founded in 1576 and held in a house in Litchfield street bearing date 1600 and endorsed by William Parker. By 19th century the school was in decline - due to classical nature of education few people wished to send their children learn grammatical instruction in the learned languages. The school closed in 1874, but was re-opened again in 1880. The school building was restored in 1857, re-organised in 1882 and extended in 1887-8. By 1910 the old school in New Street was used as parish rooms and the school was taught in the rooms adjoining Wardens Lodge. The building is still in existence, but in uncertain usage. Film 2 Photo 21, 22, 24,25.

Grammar School, North Street
Teachers and a few boarders lived in 'Ivydene' in Sheaf Street.

A new house for the head master -Warden's Lodge was erected in 1888 in an elaborate red brick Jacobean style. The building has since been converted to flats. Film 1 photo 10, Film 3 Photo 12,13.

Roman Catholic Church, New Street
Utilised the old grammar school for a number of years.

{5} At the visitation in 1442 it was claimed that the clerk was too busy with his studies to assist the monks in celebrating mass. It has been suggested that he was more likely to have been a student at a local grammar school than at university. No other evidence for a grammar school at Daventry in the medieval period has yet been found. In 1576 the London woollen draper William Parker, who had been born in Daventry, founded a grammar school in his native town, settling £20 a year for ever upon a master to instruct 50 scholars in Latin free of charge. Money was raised in Daventry to build a schoolhouse, which was opened in 1600. The building survives, in New Street, and was restored in 1857.

{6} Daventry Grammar School. Founded 6 April 1576 by will of William Parker. In 1601 it was stated that the town had brought a piece of ground and built a schoolhouse with rooms for the schoolmaster and usher (a) (b) This schoolhouse is still in use.

{7} In good condition, see photo.

{8} [Former list description] SP 5743 6252: Roman Catholic church, New Street (Originally Old Grammar School). Dated 1600. The late 17th century house adjoining was originally the Master's House. It has 19th century alterations.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 1/57 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), D06B (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

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

<4> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<5> Ballinger J.; Foard G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Daventry (Medieval/Post Medieval/ Industrial), Section 3.3.3 School (Digital archive). SNN100501.

<6> Serjeantson, R M & Adkins, R W D, 1906, A History of the County of Northampton, p. 275-6 (Book). SNN111061.

<7> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments (Notes). SNN111907.

<8> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, M.H.L.G. (Daventry M.B.) 1032/11/A, Feb. 1948, p.7 (Report). SNN112993.

<9> Historic England, Undated, DAVENTRY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, DAVENTRY, BF085087 (Archive). SNN113813.

Record last edited

Aug 25 2023 9:42AM