Building record 459/1/1 - St. Mary's Church

Mainly 13th century church with 14th century and later alterations including the rebuilding of the chancel in 1690. The church consists of a chancel, nave, north and south aisles, south porch and west tower. It is constructed of coursed squared ironstone and coursed ironstone rubble with some limestone dressings and lead roofs. Listed as a late Saxon minster.

{2} Field name: The Lawn

{7} Standing building; church

{11} Church. C13, C14, C16, chancel rebuilt 1690. Coursed squared ironstone, coursed ironstone rubble, some limestone dressings, lead roofs. Chancel, nave, north and south aisles, south porch, west tower. East window has 3 lights and intersecting tracery. To north side of chancel 4-light mullion window with hood-mould to east, and similar 2-light window to west. To south side a 2-light mullion window and datestone inscribed DK/1690 over blocked priests door, to west of which a straight-headed low side window with hood-mould. North aisle has 2-light mullion windows either side of narrow re-used north door with pointed double-chamfered arch with hood-mould and label stops; west window with 4-centred arched head blocked except for one light. South aisle has east window of 3 lights and intersecting tracery with hood-mould, and a 3-light straight-headed window with hood-mould to east of porch, a 2-light pointed window to west; small 1-light round arched west window. South porch has double-chamfered door with hood-mould, small 2-light pointed arch east window, chamfered plinth, coped gable and tile roof. Many moulded pointed south door with hood mould and label stops. Clerestory has four 3-light straight-headed windows north and south with hood-moulds. Plain parapets to chancel, nave and aisles. 3 stage west tower has 2-light Decorated west window with hood-mould and label stops, niche above with hodding ogee-head, crocketted gable and pinnacles, and 2-light belfry windows with cusped Y-tracery and hood-moulds with label stops. Chamfered plinth, string courses, diagonal buttresses to south-east and south-west corners, side buttresses to north-east and north-west angles, and plain parapet with corbel table. Interior: chancel has stained glass east window of 1866, and in side windows C16 and C17 painted glass squares and roundels of continental origin, and also armorial panels. Late C18 or early C19 Gothick communion table, rails and clergy chairs. C18 stone and marble pavement. Nave has late medieval tie-beam roof and 3-bay arcades with double chamfered arches, round columns and octagonal capitals. Stone chequer floor with inset black marble tomb slabs and 2 C16 Purbeck marble slabs with brasses. Late C18 box pews incorporating C16 linenfold and tracery panels, other panels with Renaissance profile heads and figurative scenes. C16 style hall pew in south aisle with tracery panels and linenfold. C16 painted glass panels in aisle windows. Early C19 chamber organ with keyboard supported on Greek Doric columns. In glass case in north-west aisle window painted wood Commandments made to resemble open bible, hatchments and painted Hanoverian Royal Arms in tower. Outstanding series of brasses, wall monuments and tomb chest with effigies to members of Knightley family C16-C19. (Buildings of England: Northants, p.213-4).

{15} The building has been the victim of heritage crime. The interior has suffered from water ingress. Temporary roof coverings are in place to the nave, chancel and south aisle but leaks persist. There are signs of slippage to the clay tiles of the south porch roof. A Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair grant has been offered in 2016 which will hopefully address the work needed.

{17} Archaeological observation was undertaken during excavation of drainage trenches. Disturbed grave soil was recorded throughout all the drainage trenches, however no archaeological deposits were present.

{19] Watching brief undertaken during repairs to the churchyard wall and path identified worked stone in the wall and parts of an inscribed tablet in the path. The tablet fragments were placed in the churchyard.

{20} Undated photo, also two photos dated December 1978;

{21} Listed as a late Saxon minster.

{24} The medieval heraldic shields present in the church today originated in the Hall. There is also an important series of North European roundels . There is also a series of late C16 Washington armorials, brought from Sulgrave Manor in the early C19.

{25} Drawings of monuments: shields, sketches, measurements, inscriptions, tracings, notes, newspaper cuttings, poem, pedigree, coats of arms, family trees, prints, paintings, photos, rubbings, Seal of the Hundred of Fawsley;

<1> Wilson R., 1993, A Brief History of Fawsley Church and Park, (unchecked) (Booklet). SNN57145.

<2> 1741, Map of Fawsley, (unchecked) (Map). SNN8611.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.213-4 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77383.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77384.

<6> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.36 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN45646.

<7> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, 41 p.66-67 (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<8> 1794, The Gentleman's Magazine (1794), p.977 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN43767.

<9> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN10247.

<10> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.67-70 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<11> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/77 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<12> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F05 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<13> Ordnance Survey, 1811-9, First Edition Ordnance Survey Surveyors Drawings, (unchecked) (Map). SNN104902.

<14> MARKS R., The Medieval Stained Glass of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN109366.

<15> Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2016, p. 50 (Report). SNN110747.

<16> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.389 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<17> Leigh D.J., 2008, An Archaeological Watching Brief at The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Fawsley, Northamptonshire, November 2007, p.4 (checked) (Report). SNN106274.

<18> Bloxham M.H., 1878, On The Medieval Sepulchral Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.255+58 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN107097.

<19> Kitchener and Chappell, 1996, SMR report form- St Mary's Church, Fawsley (SMR Report Form). SNN111655.

<20> Photographs of buildings in Fawsley (Photographs). SNN111722.

<21> Blair, J, 1994, Anglo-Saxon Oxfordshire, p. 57 (Book). SNN114064.

<22> Historic England, Undated, St Mary's Church, Fawsley, BF044009 (Archive). SNN114065.

<23> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<24> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 65-71 (Book). SNN101533.

<25> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/111/1-50, 62-315 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2024 3:25PM