Monument record 1160/29 - Site of St Martin's Chapel

The former Chapel of St Martin probably lies in Horsemarket, formerly St Martin's Street. In 1348 it was recorded as having been the original house of Cluniac monks in Northampton before the foundation of St Andrew's Priory. Probably derelict by the 13th century.

{1} Chapel of St Martin probably lies in Horsemarket, formerly St Martin's Street. In 1348 it was recorded as having been the original house of Cluniac monks in Northampton before the foundation of St Andrew's Priory. It was regarded as having been waste for over twenty years in 1274 yet John Chaumberleyn was presented there in 1372.

{2}{3} In register of St James' Abbey mention is made of St Martin's Chapel in St Martin's Street; nothing certain known

{4} Chapel of St Martin stood in St Martin's Lane; long since destroyed; no mention of it in wills

{5} St Martin's Church situated in North Quarter

{9} Recorded as the original house of Cluniac monks in town before foundation of St Andrew's Priory; Edward III presenting to it as in gift of alien priory

{10} Reported as having been without chaplain for twenty years in 1274 & in ruinous state

{11} John Chaumberleyn presented there in 1372

{13} T.C. Welsh identifies St. Martin's Chapel with the groined cellar found west of The Drapery.

{14} The chapel of St Martin is thought to have stood on the western side of Horsemarket, with a tenement to the north and possibly a messuage or a garden to the south. Any archaeological evidence for the chapel of St Martin may have been lost to 20th-century road widening, although two residual finds from the site, a piece of painted window glass and a fragment of lead came are evocative of an ecclesiastical context.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.381 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.118; Handwritten notes in NDC SMR File M39 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<3> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.88 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1032.

<4> Serjeantson R.M.; Longden Isham H., 1913, The Parish Churches & Religious Houses of Northamptonshire: Their Dedications, Altars etc., p.162-63 (unchecked); Notes in NDC SMR File M39; (Extract). SNN1080.

<5> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.55 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<6> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.451 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<7> 1933, Northamptonshire County Magazine, 6 No. 68 (August), p.209 (unchecked) (Article). SNN54630.

<8> 1933, Northamptonshire County Magazine, 6 No. 70 (October) p. 239 (unchecked) (Article). SNN54630.

<9> Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1348-50/247 (unchecked) (Document). SNN978.

<10> ROT HUND, 2A (unchecked) (Document). SNN4399.

<11> Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1370-74/217 (unchecked) (Document). SNN978.

<12> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, M39 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

<13> WELSH T.C., 1999, Document Search: The Site of St. Martin's Church, Northampton, pp 3-4 (checked) (Document). SNN54629.

<14> Museum of London Archaeology Service, 2005, Saxon, medieval and post-medieval settlement at Sol Central, Marefair, Northampton, p. 69 (Full Report). SNN105717.

Record last edited

Mar 17 2025 2:18PM