Building record 1625/1/2 - Old Church of St John the Baptist, Boughton

A ruined church of Norman origin but the visible upstanding masonry to the nave, chancel and aisles is largely 14th and 15th century. The graveyard is still use.

{1} Medieval church and churchyard of St. John the Baptist at the deserted medieval village of Boughton Green. The churchyard was still consecrated ground and in use for burials in 1969.

{2} Description of the church

{3} Ruined church in a walled churchyard

{6} The church and churchyard of St John the Baptist was formerly part of the now deserted medieval village of Boughton Green. There may have been a church at Boughton Green from the 8th century, however the earliest known historical records for the church are dated to AD 1201. The architecture of the present church building has been dated mainly to the C14th. It was certainly in ruins by the early 18th century, and the tower and spire stood until about 1785. Major landscaping improvements at Boughton Park during the 18th century made no attempt at restoration of the church building, despite Wentworth's substantial gothic building works elsewhere on the parkland (The Hawking Tower, The Spectacles, Bunkers Hill Farm etc). This was probably because the church already effected a true gothic ruin lying at the edge of the park.

{7} Ruined church; C14th & C15th & C17th.

{8} The present building was erected in the early 14th century. It was rich and had a fine tiled floor, quite unusual for a village church. The church had a chapel added to the north east in the 15th century, but by then it had become neglected, perhaps after the Reformation. The spire fell down in the late 18th century.

{9} Engraving of church from c.1772 by Peltro;

{12} A ruined church of Norman origin but the visible upstanding masonry to the nave, chancel and aisles is largely C14 and C15. The building lies close to the site of a well-known medieval fair from the middle of the C14. The ruin has extensive ivy growth to most elevations and it appears that this is deep rooted within the masonry. Stonework has been displaced in more vulnerable areas. The site is isolated and is understood to be prone to antisocial behaviour. Historic England is considering a project development grant to look at options and longer term solutions for the site.

{18} Undated photo.

{19} Present condition as on photographs. The churchyard is still consecrated ground and in use for burials.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76NE6 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<2> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.79 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100371.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.16/Site 7 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.411 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<5> Bradlaugh Barn Association, 2005, Secrets of Bradlaugh Fields, Northampton, (unchecked) (Guide). SNN106009.

<6> Scott S., 1995, The Follies of Boughton Park, p.62-65 (checked) (Book). SNN44220.

<7> 1998, Buildings At Risk Survey, p.41 (checked) (Report). SNN43352.

<8> Hall, D.N. & Burch, C.E.C., 1991, Excavations at Boughton Green Church 1973, (checked) (Notes). SNN1769.

<9> Boswell, Antiquities of England and Wales, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN109833.

<10> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (unchecked) (Report). SNN47128.

<11> Cadman, G., 2001, Boughton, Old St John's (County Monument No 86) Rapid Site Inspection - 12th June 2001, (checked) (Notes). SNN101137.

<12> Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2016, p. 48 (Report). SNN110747.

<13> Historic England, 2017, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2017, p. 55 (Report). SNN111090.

<14> 1761, Untitled Source, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN54436.

<15> GROSE, 1797, ANTIQUITIES, 27 (unchecked) (Engraving). SNN55939.

<16> Serjeantson, Rev R M and Longden, Rev H I, 1913, The parish churches and religious houses of Northamptonshire: Their dedications, altars, images and lights, 280 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN2836.

<17> 1930, Associated Architectural Societies Reports, p.388 (unchecked) (Series). SNN55937.

<18> Photographs of buildings in Boughton (Photographs). SNN111893.

<19> Colquhoun, FD, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 FDC 29-APR-69 (Notes). SNN112950.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2024 12:47PM