Building record 3084/4/1 - St. John the Baptist

Church built in the late 12th century, with 13th and 14th century additions, restored in 1891. Built of squared coursed limestone and lias, with ashlar to the aisle and spire. The roofs are of lead and Collyweston stone slates. The church consists of an aisled nave, chancel, west tower and south porch.

{1} Church. Late C12, C13 and C14, restored 1891. Squared coursed limestone and lias, with ashlar aisle and spire. Lead and Collyweston slate roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, west tower and south porch. South elevation of chancel of 2-window range of 2- and 3-light Perpendicular windows with 4-centred arch-heads. Square-head priests door, to left of centre, and 2-stage buttress to right of centre. Shallow gabled roof, with plain ashlar parapets. 5-light Perpendicular east window with panel tracery. Flan ing, 2-stage, clasping buttresses have carved beasts at upper stage. Shallow gable, with finial, above window. North elevation of chancel is of 2 bays, one-window range, with a 3-light, Perpendicular window, with 4-centred arch-head, to right. 2-stage buttress to centre. South aisle is limestone ashlar, partly banded with lias. 4 bays, 3-window range. 3-light square-head window to far right. 3-light window, with reticulated tracery, to right of centre, and similar window to far left. 2-stage abled buttresses at corners and between bays, to right. Lean-to roof with ashlar parapet. 2-light east window with reticulated tracery and 2-light west window with roundel and roll mouldings. Gabled porch, with Collyweston slate roof, to left of centre. Wide outer doorway with 2-centred arch-head, roll moulding, nail-head decoration and one order of shafts. Inner doorway has a 2-centre arch-head with roll moulding and a C15 doorway set in the original opening. This has a 4-centred arch-head decorated spandrels and central deivce, probably a crown. North aisle of 4 bays, 2-window range of 2-light windows to left. North doorway, to right of centre, has 2-centred arch-head, roll moulding and 3 orders of shafts. 2-stage buttresses between bays to left, and right and at corners. Lean-to roof with ashlar gable parapets. South nave clerestory of 4-window range of 2-light square-head windows with hood moulds and carved label stops. Shallow gable roof with ashlar parapet and finial. East all of nave has outline of earlier chancel roof line. North nave clerestory of 4-window range of C15 four-light square-head windows with king mullions and arch-head lights. Late C12 west tower of 3 stages with shallow pilasters at each corner. South-west corner is the stair turret. All angles have lias dressings. Lancet windows to west face of lower stage, and south face of second stage. 2-light bell-chamber openings to each face of upper stage have 2-centred Transitional arch-heads, with 3 t ers of lucarnes. Interior: 4 bay nave arcade of double-chamfered arches with octagonal piers and polygonal responds. Similar chancel arch with polygonal responds. Triple-stepped and single-chamfered tower arch with polygonal and stepped responds and waterleaf capitals. Nave and aisle roofs have some original timbers, restored C19. Chancel roof is C19. Trefoil head piscina, to right of altar, has remains of triple, ogee-head, sedilia alongside. South aisle has piscina and triple sedilia, with arved label stops. Staircase access from south aisle to rood loft. Perpendicular rood screen with one-light divisions and ribbed coving. Restored Jacobean panelled screen to north aisle vestry. Jacobean pulpit dated 1605 originally at Barrowden in Leicestershire. Square font, with trefoil panels at sides, supported on 5 shafts. Stained glass: fragments of medieval glass in aisle and chancel windows. Late C19/early C20 east windows to chancel and south aisle. Hatchment in north aisle. Monument : Tryon family vault in north aisle forms a raised platform, built in early C18 probably in 2 stages. Central doorway with flight of steps down and 2 flanking flights of steps up. Fine iron railings. Wall monument above platform to 4 generations of Tryons, probably c.1710 has 2 standing cherubs, cherubs heads and garlands with shield at head. Oval inscribed tablet alongside. William Gardiner, d.1719; inscribed brass plaque in floor of nave. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: p250; RCHM: An Inventory of Architectural Monuments in North Northamptonshire: p81)

{4} Foundations for the north aisle of the church were identified in the pipe trench connecting the trench arch drain to the church. Large blocks of limestone, 0.60m long and at least 0.30m wide and 0.08m thick, were overlain by smaller limestone pieces 0.30m long, 0.30m wide and 0.05m thick (Figs 2 and 7). These were directly overlain by the main north aisle wall. The line of the stone was at a slight angle to the wall, likely widening to provide footings for the buttress (Figs 2 and 5).

{7} Undated photo;

{8} A small frame of painted glass from Fotheringhay 15th century name is held within Harringworth parish church.

{12} Heraldic medieval glass was recorded here in the late C16 and C17, but most of it had been lost by 1719. Some small pieces of painted glass survive including three roundels and an angel's head.

{13} Notes on the church, also drawing of item "loose in the church";

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 11/132 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G11 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> 1975-85, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN100542.

<4> Clements, P., 2015, Archaeological observation, investigation and recording of groundworks at the Church of St. John the Baptist, Harringworth, Northamptonshire, October 2015, p. 6 (Report). SNN110520.

<5> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), p. 41 (Journal). SNN111326.

<6> VICAR, 1888, NOTES ON HARRINGWORTH CHURCH (Uncertain). SNN48193.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Harringworth (Photographs). SNN112529.

<8> Johnston G., 2000-01, Excavation of an Ossuary at Fotheringhay Church, Northamptonshire, P165 (checked) (Article). SNN103949.

<9> Serjeantson R.M.; Longden Isham H., 1913, The Parish Churches & Religious Houses of Northamptonshire: Their Dedications, Altars etc., P337 (Extract). SNN1080.

<10> Historic England, St John the Baptist's Church, Harringworth, BF044012 (Archive). SNN115332.

<11> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<12> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 100-1 (Book). SNN101533.

<13> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/138/1,3 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:18PM