Building record 2659/2/1 - St. Mary's Church

Church. Early C13 origins, mainly late C13, C14, west tower rebuilt C18, north chapel added 1862. Squared coursed limestone with ashlar dressings and west tower. Lead roofs. Aisled nave and chancel, west tower and south porch.

{1} Church. Early C13 origins, mainly late C13, C14, west tower rebuilt C18, north chapel added 1862. Squared coursed limestone with ashlar dressings and west tower. Lead roofs. Aisled nave and chancel, west tower and south porch. South elevation of chancel of one-window range with C14 three-light window with reticulated tracery. South chapel abuts one bay of chancel. Shallow gabled roof with castellated ashlar parapet. 5-light Perpendicular east window with castellated gable parapet above. North levation of chancel of one-window range with 3-light Perpendicular window. North chapel abuts in similar way to south chapel. South aisle of 3-window range including south chapel. Central C14 three-light window with reticulated tracery flanked by 2- and 3-light Perpendicular windows with 3 stage ashlar buttresses between. Lean-to roof with castellated ashlar parapet and 2 gargoyles. C19 two- and 3-light east and west windows. Left hand bay has Perpendicular porch with large castellated para et and gargoyles. Outer arch has 4-centred head and cluster shafts. Inside the walls have triple arcading with cluster shafts. North aisle including north chapel of 4-window range with 3 C14 three-light square-head window to centre and right, all with carved label stops: and 3-light C19 window to far left. North door between window to right and 2-stage buttresses between other windows. Castellated ashlar parapet with corbel table and central gargoyle. C19 two- and 3-light east and west wind ws. Nave clerestory of 3-window range of C14 two light windows with 4-centred heads. Shallow gable roof with castellated ashlar parapet and 2 gargoyles to east side. 3-stage unbuttressed west tower with flat band between second and third stages. West door with broad single light window above with pointed head. Square tablet to west and south face of second stage having clock face on south side with sundial above. 2-light bell-chamber openings to each face of third stage have C18 Gothick tra ery with roundels. Plain panelled parapet with moulded cornice below. Obelisk pinnacles, with ball finials, at corners. Octagonal wood cupula with glazed sides having glazing bars. Lead roof with wrought iron weather vane. Interior: 3-bay nave arcade, south is late C13 with roll moulded and chamfered arches with quatrefoil piers and stiff-leaf capitals, south chapel arcade is similar. Perpendicular north arcade has piers with a hollow chamfer towards nave and aisles and shafts towards the a ch openings. Double chamfered chancel arch and early C13 semi-circular tower arch with carved head on capital. Roofs restored C19 and C20 retain some original timbers. Perpendicular double piscina and sedilia with trefoil head in south chapel. Niche to left of south chapel altar has steep triangular crocketted head. Frieze with cusping, below adjacent window. Stained glass: fragments of medieval glass in north aisle, north-east window, part depicting arms of Bassett family. C17 Flemish glas west tower window depicting the Adoration of the Magi, at one time given by Lord Nelson to Sir William Hamilton. C19 stained glass to chancel and south chapel east window, the latter is by Kempe. Monuments: various C17 inscribed floor tablets. C17 and C18 tablets in chancel including inscriptions to Dr. Greeves, Thomas Mainwaring and George Jeffreys. South chapel, south wall, Henry Pratt died 1595, inscribed plaque with decorated pilasters and obelisks above. 2 inscribed C18 tablets, to ri ht, to Goode family have reeded pilasters, tablet to William Goode died 1761 on opposite wall. Other C19 tablets. Font C15 is attached to north aisle pillar. The unusual glazed lantern is said to have been a beacon light to guide travellers through Rockingham forest.

{5} The story goes that a traveller was hopelessly lost in Rockingham Forest when he spotted the church tower at Weldon in the Woods, as it was then known. In gratitude, he paid for a lantern to be placed at the top of the tower to help fellow travellers, and it is still there.

{7} The church is in regular use for public worship.

{12} Four undated photos.

{14} The medieval glass in the church is of four periods including the mid C14 and early C16. The Adoration of the Magi in the west window appears to be south Netherlandish work of c1520-30. The glass is said to have been given to Sir William Hamilton by Lord Nelson and later donated to the church by Revd William R Finch-Hatton. The earliest glazing at the church is the head drinking from a cup, of C13 date, and is said to be from Kirby Hall and is French in style.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 16/177 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1992, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), K06 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN46686.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.237 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<5> The Automobile Association, 1986, Secret Britain, (unchecked) (Extract). SNN45929.

<6> Lee M., 2004, Henry Penn, Bellfounder, 1685-1729, p.41-53 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109357.

<7> Seaman, B H, 1961, Field investigators comments, F1 BHS 16-AUG-61 (Notes). SNN112887.

<8> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, M.O.H. List 2168/11/A. 1950, p.40. (Report). SNN112993.

<9> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1958 (Map). SNN112944.

<10> Historic England, Undated, CHURCH, WELDON, BF044035 (Archive). SNN113246.

<11> Historic England, Undated, St Marys Church, Weldon, BF107433 (Archive). SNN113247.

<12> Photographs of buildings in Weldon (Photographs). SNN113888.

<13> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<14> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 287-91 (Book). SNN101533.

Record last edited

Dec 13 2024 2:59PM