Monument record 1625/1/3 - Possible Holy Well at St. John's Church

A probable Holy Well lies immediately outside the east wall of the chancel, where there is a spring covered by a medieval grave slab.

{1} Holy well; a medieval grave slab decorated with a crucifix covers St John's Spring; drawing of cover

{2} Rev S Trott, rector of Boughton, advises that an "old well" capped by a large stone slab is present just outside the west side of the walled graveyard of old St John's church. This lies in the grassed area on south side of entrance track to graveyard. Undated. He gives NGR as SP7643 6560

{3} Immediately outside east wall of chancel is a spring

{4} Location of church was possibly related to Holy Well of St John the Baptist

{5} A probable Holy Well lies immediately outside the east wall of the chancel, where there is a spring covered by a medieval grave slab. The slab is decorated with the carving of a crucifix. The location of church was probably related to the presence of this Holy Well of St John the Baptist.

{6} There was a spring or pond cited under the nave of the church. It had been channeled off to the east and the pond filled in the late Saxon period. Its course was changed again c.1200 when an extension to the church was built, and then again when the new church was built in the early 14th century.

<1> Journal of the Northamptonshire Natural History Society, 17/190 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN18728.

<2> Cadman, G., 1999, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN100777.

<3> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.80 (part checked) (Series). SNN100371.

<4> Stevenson G.E., 1946, A Short Guide to Boughton, (unchecked) (Guide). SNN48114.

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

<6> Hall, D.N. & Burch, C.E.C., 1991, Excavations at Boughton Green Church 1973, (checked) (Notes). SNN1769.

<7> Cadman, G., 2001, Boughton, Old St John's (County Monument No 86) Rapid Site Inspection - 12th June 2001, (checked) (Notes). SNN101137.

Record last edited

Apr 23 2021 1:43PM