Monument record 1160/197/1 - Medieval Crypt or Groined cellar, 11 The Drapery

Part of a medieval groined cellar described in 1860 when the site was developed

{2}Medieval groined cellar;

{1}Groined cellar of "decorated architecture"; corbel consisting of face with tongue lolling out; also an ambry locker possibly forming part of arrrangement of chapel;

{8}Crypt;

{5}"house in The Drapery demolished.traces of Great Fire large groined vaults with some of stone calcinated by heat groat of Henry VII & halfpenny of Charles II found.";

{7}"….arches forming cellar sprang almost from the ground; impost in each of four corners formed from single block of stone; colossal grotesque mask nearly filling angle….only one has been preserved but in poor condition; others broken in removal….lips are of great thickness & tongue thrust out of mouth with leering expression….entrance was by descent in south-west end of several stone steps & through very low doorway with pointed arch; all ground to west of cellar made up….empty urn or pitcher found with figures & foliage in relief on it;

{6}"....another crypt with groined arches of Decorated architecture; also corbel consisting of face with tongue lollng out which is now in museum; also aumbry locker possibly forming part of arrangement of chapel....";

<1> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.70-71 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1032.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.387 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<5> 1860, The Northampton Mercury, (unchecked) (Article). SNN501.

<6> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.125; Handwritten notes in NDC SMR File M58;; (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<7> 1860, The Northampton Mercury, 3 (Article). SNN556.

<8> Shaw M.; Williams J., 1971-1981, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Record Cards, M58 (checked) (Index). SNN133.

<9> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, M58 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

Record last edited

Nov 21 2017 11:49AM