Building record 3721/1/1 - Church of St. Nicholas

Late 12th-14th century, tower datestone 1737, and 19th century. Regular coursed and squared coursed limestone and ironstone with lead and plain-tile roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, west tower and south porch.

{1} Church. Late C12, C13, C14, datestone 1737 and C19. Regular coursed and squared coursed limestone and ironstone with lead and plain-tile roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, west tower and south porch. South elevation of chancel of 4-window range of C14 two-light square-headed windows. South door with low-side lancet to left. C19 pitched roof with corbelled cornice and ashlar gable parapets and finial. 5-light east window has C19 tracery. North elevation of chancel of 3-window range with one lancet to left and two C14 two-light square headed windows to right with low-side lancets below. South aisle of 3-window range of 3-light windows, one with reticulated tracery, the others with C19 tracery, all with carved label stops. Similar east and west windows. Lean-to roof with castellated ashlar parapet. Gabled porch to left of centre has plain half round outer arch and pointed inner arch with roll moulding and C15 ribbed door. North aisle of 3-window range of 3-light windows, 2 have Y-tracery with cusping and one has reticulated tracery. North door to right of centre under pointed arch. Similar east and west windows. Lean-to roof with castellated ashlar parapet. Late C12 west tower is of 3 stages, setting back at each stage. 3-stage clasping buttresses to lower stage. Transitional west door has triple-stepped pointed arch with 3 shafts; 2 only with capitals. Round head lancet above. 2-light round head bell-chamber openings to each face of third stage. Plain ashlar parapet. Datestone on tower 1737 probably refers to restoration. Interior: 4-bay nave arcades of c.1300: double-chamfered arches with octagonal piers. One pier on south side is earlier with nail head decoration. Double-chamfered chancel arch and triple-chamfered tower arch. Evidence of C12 transept on north side of nave, C19 roof structures. Perpendicular screen, parts reset. Jacobean 2 tier pulpit with hour glass stand. Late C17 communion rail with twisted balusters. C15 font cover has been restored. Late C12 sculpture in vestry is Satan and the apple of Eden. Wall painting south of chancel arch has crucifix with the Virgin Mary and St.John. Stained glass, fragment of medieval glass: in south aisle south-east window. Fragment of medieval floor tiling. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.232).

{4} Archaeological recording during the re-flooring of the western Nave and North Aisle revealed a brick burial vault and a probable earth-cut grave. The coffin-shaped vault was set on the mid-line of the church 1.6m east of the tower arch. Only the upper 21cm of fill was cleared and no in situ remains were encountered. The vault was covered by a grave slab commemorating William Challoner vicar of the parish from 1722-1779 and two members of his family. Across the east end of the grave was a second and presumably reused slab commemorating the death on June 4th 1694 of John Hackney, the son of John and Elizabeth Hackney; a John Hackney held Barnard’s Manor in Great Doddington in 1682. At the west end of the North Aisle a simple earth-cut grave-like feature was revealed beneath a very worn grave slab inscribed ‘EDWARD… … … … … ..WORTH’ ‘DIED 84 YEARS’. The upper 35cm of the fill of the ‘grave’ was excavated and no in situ remains were discovered.

{5} A re-set scallop capital now in the east jamb of the south nave doorway. The nook-shaft capital suggests that there was a 12thc. doorway that was replaced when the aisles were added, and the stones used in their construction, but no other pieces have come to light.

{6} An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Northamptonshire Archaeology during the installation of a central heating system at the church of St. Nicholas, Great Doddington, Northamptonshire. During the course of the watching brief the foundation of an earlier step connected with the south porch was noted. No datable artefacts were recovered during the course of the watching brief and the foundation remains undated.

{7} Undated photo.

{10} Of the heraldic glass recorded by antiquaries only a shield in a north window has survived, together with a lion's head from another shield.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 17/111 (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.232 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Ivens R.J., 2012, Archaeological Recording at The Church of St. Nicholas, Great Doddington, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN108332.

<5> King's College, London, 2017, A corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland, Site 755 (Website). SNN110894.

<6> Leigh, D., 2005, An archaeological watching brief at the Church of St Nicholas, Great Doddington, Northamptonshire September - November 2003 (Report). SNN108011.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Great Doddington (Photographs). SNN112506.

<8> Historic England, Undated, St Nicholas' Church, Great Doddington, BF052985 (Archive). SNN115782.

<9> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<10> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 90-1 (Book). SNN101533.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 4:37PM