Building record 3472/1/1 - St. Mary's Church, Horton

Church built in the 13th century with 14th century additions, repaired and altered circa 1720 at the expense of Earl of Halifax and the body of the church was restored and partly rebuilt by E F Law in 1862-3. Built of coursed limestone rubble and coursed squared limestone and ironstone, with slate roofs. The church consists of a chancel, nave, south aisle and porch and west tower.

{1} Church. C13 and C14, repaired and altered c.1720 at expense of Earl of Halifax; body of church restored and partly rebuilt by E.F. Law 1862-3. Coursed limestone rubble and coursed squared limestone and ironstone; slate roofs. Chancel, nave, south aisle and porch, west tower. 2-bay chancel has inverted round-arched relieving arch in ironstone below 3-light east window with C19 Decorated-style tracery and 2-light windows to south side only with C19 Geometrical tracery, all with hood moulds. Nave window to north side flanked by 2-light windows, all with C19 Decorated tracery and hood moulds. South aisle has similar 2-light windows and 1-light window to west end. Double-chamfered south door in C19 porch with similar doorway and 1-light window to either side with cut spandrels. Small 3-stage tower has 2-light window to 1st stage west with chamfered horizontal oval to head (renewed). Circular window to north with moulded stone surround, large clock faces to middle stage west and south with similar surrounds and 1-light chamfered bell-openings. Diagonal off-set buttresses and plain stone-coped parapet with plain pilaster slips to angles. Body of church has hollow-chamfered stone eaves. Ornamental ridge tiles to nave. Alternating bands of ironstone and limestone, to south aisle. Offset buttresses to angles of aisle and chancel. Tall elaborate C18 wrought-iron weather-vane to tower has been dismantled. Chancel has alabaster and marble reredos and dado to sanctuary with inlay trellis patterns to reredos, limestone quatrefoil sill band. Incorporates sedile with chamfered pointed arched head with painted and marble inlay decoration and triangular hood mould. Elaborate C19 carved corbels supporting arch-braced collar truss roof. Nave has 3-bay arcades with octagonal piers, moulded bases and capitals and double-chamfered arches. Slightly chamfered pointed tower arch. Funeral hatchment, oil on canvas. C19 stain-glass east window, east window and south aisle windows of c.1920. Monuments: brass to Roger Salisbury d.1491 and two wives. Free-standing tomb chest to middle of chancel of alabaster with praying effigies of Lord Parr d.1546, uncle of Catherine Parr, and his wife Mary d.1555, daughter and cousin of John Salisbury. Inscription to top edge commemorating deceased: "Sir William Par Knight Lat Lorde Par of Horton and Lord Chamberlaine to the Queens Highness" and Mary his late wife. Five flat niches to long sides. Mourners including bedesmen to niches. Leaf trail to plinth with hunters and hunting dogs. Pairs of shields to each end. Wall monument to Sir William Lane and family c.1580. Alabaster with strapwork and inscription to apron; small effigies of Sir William and his wife facing each other at prayer desk with children behind them flanked by obelisks and panelled pilasters, and topped by cartouche of arms flanked by winged sculls. Wall monument to Edward and Henrietta Montagu, another to James Lovell. Pair of white marble urns in niches with pineapple finials. Veined grey marble ground. Inscription to apron, Tuscan pilasters flanking niches and supporting pediment with cartouche of arms. Swags and flower trails. Other C19 marble wall tablets to members of Gunning family.

{6} Former church, C13 and C14 fabric, repaired and altered c1720 at the expense of the Earl of Halifax. There is a known history of seasonal structural movement, and internal plasterwork has fallen as a result. Rainwater goods are in very bad condition. There are areas of poor stonework, such as to the tower and areas affected by leaking gutters. The chancel roof covering is in poor condition, with slipped and missing slates. The building is being marketed as a residential property by the Church Commissioners.

{7} Observation of investigative works in 2006, aimed at identifying the source of the structural problems within the church- there was the possibility that a probable vault beneath the nave was contributing to these problems.

Investigation revealed a large barrel vault running east-west in alignment with the nave. It’s dimensions are uncertain, but it appears to be c.3m deep. It is of brick construction. No coffins are visible, but there are plaques on the wall indicating a sepulchre arrangement burial, with niches containing coffins being blanked off with the identities of the deceased recorded. It appears to be the burial vault of the Gunning family. Sir Robert Gunning purchased Horton Manor in 1782.

The vault appears to have been deliberately sealed, presumably when the family sold the estate in 1888. It appears to be very sound with no evidence of structural movement.

{8} The whole church, apart from the west tower and south arcade was rebuilt in 14th century style by E F Law in 1862-3, although he seems to have respected the medieval plan of the church, as the dimensions match those given by bridges in 1720.

{13} Undated photo.

{14} During works to underpin the south-west buttress of the tower in 1970 a possible north-south wall and abutting east-west wall were identified some 18"-20" below ground level partially beneath the tower and extending to the south and west of it.

{15} - Wessex Archaeology undertook a geophysical survey at Horton Church. The technique used was Ground Penetrating Radar. The results of the survey found two anomalies that have been identified as archaeological in nature. One was representative of the interface between the ceiling of a discovered crypt and the material above. The other anomaly is deemed to be associated with the position of an entrance tunnel to the known crypt.

{16} Notes on arms and effigies in the church;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 21/103 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F12 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.263-4 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.261 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100371.

<5> Clarke B.F.L., 1963, The Building of the C18th Church, p.72 (unchecked) (Book). SNN103147.

<5> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<6> Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2016, p. 55 (Report). SNN110747.

<7> Carroll, Q, 2006, Monitoring Visit 29 June 2006: Church of St Mary, Horton (Report). SNN110822.

<8> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches, Hackelton: Horton, St Mary's (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<9> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, Vol 42, p 68-9 (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<10> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p. 369-70 (Book). SNN77325.

<11> Historic England, 2017, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2017, p. 62 (Report). SNN111090.

<11> Historic England, 2018, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2018, p. 62 (Report). SNN111434.

<12> Bloxham M.H., 1878, On The Medieval Sepulchral Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.255 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN107097.

<13> Photographs of buildings in Hackleton (Photographs). SNN112513.

<14> Roberts, SA, 1970, Horton Church (Drawing). SNN115598.

<15> Brett Howard, 2022, Horton Church, Horton, Northamptonshire: Ground Penetrating Radar Survey Report (Report). SNN115868.

<16> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/155/2 (Archive). SNN115.

<17> Historic England, Undated, St Mary Magdalene's Church, Horton, BF052045 (Archive). SNN116227.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2024 12:20PM