Building record 3272/1/1 - St. Mary's Church, Bozeat

Church built in the 12th century, with late 13th and 14th century additions. The tower was rebuilt in 1880-83. Built of regular coursed and squared coursed limestone with ironstone dressings and an ashlar spire. The roofs are of lead and plain-tiles. The church consists of an aisled nave, chancel, west tower and south porch

{1} Church. C12, late C13 and C14. Tower rebuilt 1880-83. Regular coursed and squared coursed limestone with ironstone dressings, ashlar spire and lead and plain-tile roof. Aisled nave, chancel, west tower and south porch. South elevation of chancel of 2-window range of 2- and 3-light Decorated square headed windows. Tall low-side lancet to left is now part blocked. Steep gabled roof with ashlar parapets. 3-light east window has reticulated tracery and one carved label stop. North elevation of chancel similar to south with two 2-light square-headed windows. South aisle of 2-window range of 3-light windows, that to left has reticulated tracery and that to right has square head. 3-light east window and single quatrefoil west windows. Ashlar gable parapets and lean-to roof. C14 gabled porch to centre had moulded outer arch with niche above and deeply moulded inner arch with spaces for 2 orders of shafts. North aisle of 3-window range of 2- and 3-light square-headed windows; 2-light east window. North door opening to right. Ashlar gable parapets and lean-to roof. Nave clerestory of 3-window range of 2-light square headed windows. West tower of 3 stages with 4-stage clasping buttresses to lower 2 stages. Perpendicular west door has decorated spandrels and 2-light ogee headed window above. Plain round-headed west window in second stage. Twin bell chamber openings with a separating polygonal shaft and a round hood mould with nail-head decoration to each face of third stage. Corbel table above and broach spire with 2 tiers of lucarnes. Date 1883 and masons mark on north-west buttress. Interior: 3-bay nave arcade of double-chamfered arches with octagonal piers, no responds at east and west ends. Double-chamfered chancel arch and C12 single-stepped half-round tower arch, with plain responds. C19 roof structures. C14 screen with 4-light divisions with the main mullion running into the apex of the four-centred arch with ogee arches above. Painted dado panels. Square topped benches with buttress shafts. Stained glass east window, 1859, by W. Holland, and one other C19 stained glass window in north aisle.

{7} Undated photo;

{8} Hand-excavation of French drains was undertaken around much of the church in 2017. The full depth of the wall foundations were never exposed in the works, although the trench was deep enough to reveal some variations in construction. The medieval foundations that were exposed represent the upper part of foundation ‘plinths’ that were typically 0.05–0.2m wider than the walls they supported. The foundations appear to have been constructed within trenches of unknown depth; the limestone blocks were arranged in a fitted drystone wall fashion, with gaps being filled with clay or silt during construction. No foundations or stonework indicating earlier or additional structures were present.
The nave and chancel foundations comprised roughly hewn limestone blocks, which were tightly packed, random-uncoursed and infilled with silt. The north aisle, south aisle and porch foundations comprised roughly hewn limestone blocks that were random-coursed or built to courses and infilled with silt. The rebuilt tower foundation was lined with unfrogged bricks.

{10} [former list description]
The church at Bozeat is of Norman origin, but is now almost entirely 14th & 15th century. It is a remarkably unspoilt church.

{11} [Former list description] 2467 BOZEAT Church Walk Church of St Mary SP 95 NW 13/4 28.5.54.
2.
Of Norman origin. A small church, nave, North and South aisles, arcades 3 bays, and West tower with broach spire. Almost entirely C14 and C15. The tower is part survival of the earlier church. C14 and
C15 window tracery. Good carved screen late C14 and simple pews probably of the same time.

{14} Drawings and measurements of parts of church;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 24/4 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G05 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100394.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.115 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, 41 p.30-31 (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<5> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<6> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.160-62 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Bozeat (Photographs). SNN111675.

<8> Turner, I, 2017, Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bozeat, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Watching Brief (Report). SNN111896.

<9> Lee M., 2004, Henry Penn, Bellfounder, 1685-1729, p.41-53 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109357.

<10> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, Ministry of Housing and Local Government List, Wellingborough, 1952. (Report). SNN112993.

<11> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOE(HHR) District of Wellingborough Rural District, August 1972 (Report). SNN112993.

<12> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, District of Wellingborough, 13/05/1986 (Report). SNN112993.

<13> Historic England, Undated, St Mary's Church, Bozeat, BF107249 (Archive). SNN116046.

<14> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/35/1,2 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 4:34PM