Building record 3738/2/1 - All Saints Church, Earls Barton

Church of late 10th century origin, with early and late 12th, 13th and 14th century development phases. The Saxon tower remains but the church is mainly of 12th-14th century date. Restored in the mid 19th century . Coursed rubble and squared coursed limestone and lias with ashlar dressings and lead roof. Aisled nave, chancel, south porch and west tower.

{1} Important associations with the mound to its north, and was possibly part of a late Saxon manorial centre of a thegn. In 1066 the manor was held by same lord as Barnack, which has a similar construction of tower. Old minster church with dependencies.

{7} Standing building; the late Saxon and medieval church of All Saints, Earls Barton.

{11} Late 10th, early and late 12th, 13th and 14th, restored mid 19th century.

{12} The removal of large parts of the render of the church tower during renovation work offered a rare opportunity to examine and record large areas of the original fabric, much of which proved to surviveintact. Barnack-type limestone had been used for architectural features, while the remainder of the fabric had been infilled with limestone rubble similar to the local Upper Estuarine Limestone.

{13} Two trenches put in 1979/80. Found that the foundations of the Saxon tower near its south-east corner had a width of 1.1m. The foundation courses below the plinth, were 0.2 to 0.25m deep and set in loose sandy earth. It consisted of limestone rubble supporting the long rectangular stones of unequal thickness, part of the plinth of the tower.A footing of a buttress? Predating the Early English aisle and post dating the tower.The foundations of the south aisle were made almost entirely of limestone. Medium sized, roughly rectangular blocks of limestne c.1.2m in depth.The foundations of the western wall of the 19th century porch. These were revealed over a width of 1.36m and were about 1m deep, consisting of a course of large blocks of limestone at bedrock level supporting five courses of medium size rectangular blocks of ironstone.

{15} Foundations were exposed during underpinning work on the SW corner of the south aisle of the church. The watching brief uncovered the foundations of the tower. They consisted of limestone rubble set into a shallow T shaped trench cut into the earlier layer of brown sandy earth. The fragments of limestone did not exceed 150mm in length and were out of scale with the tower. The foundations supported a single coursed plinth made of large rectangular blocks of limestone of equal thickness. This indicates that the stone may have been reused. The plinth had been lined with a thin blueish mortar. Phase 2 of the excavations uncovered 11 inhumations set into graves cut into the bedrock, phase 4a also exposed a group of four infant burials situated close to the tower. Evidence was also noted in Phase 3 for a possible footing of a Norman buttress set in the NE corner of the western trench. Dry stone eas exposed measuring 1.3m wide and 1.5m deep.
The south aisle stands on foundations 1.2m deep made almost entirely of limestone blocks roughly coursed. These foundations were set firmly against a vertical trench. Near the butt joint with the quoin of the nave the Norman footings of Phase 3 were retained to support the aisle wall. The SW corner seems to have been underpinned by large blocks of limestone and ironstone rougly coursed. The foundations were distinguished from the standing wall by an offset of 0.1-0.2m. The wall itself presents signs of numerous repairs, the latest done in the 19th and 20th centiuries.
The porch was revealed over a width of 1.46m and 1m deep. It consisted of one course of large blocks of limestone (0.3x0,3m) resting on the bedrock. This course supported five courses of medium sized rectangular blocks of ironstone. The first course of stone could be the foundations of an earlier medieval porch on top of which in the late 19th century, were set the courses of ironstone supporting the present porch.

{16} Church. Late C10, early and late C12, C13 and C14, restored mid C19. Coursed rubble and squared coursed limestone and lias with ashlar dressings and lead roof. Aisled nave, chancel, south porch and west tower. South elevation of chancel of 3-window range of C14 two-light windows, 2 to left have square heads and other has segmental head. C12 south door has round-arched head and low side lancet to left. Steep gabled roof with ashlar parapets and finials. East window is a C13 triple lancet. North elevation of chancel has central projecting vestry with 3-light north window under segmental arch head. 2-light square head window to right and single lancet to left. South aisle of 3-window range of 2-light Decorated windows with reticulated tracery and ogee heads with uncarved finial blocks. Similar 2- and 3-light east and west windows. Lean-to roof with ashlar parapet. Porch to left of centre, restored C19, has C14 double-chamfered outer arch with cluster responds. Has 2 orders of shafts with 2 bands of zig-zag decoration round the arch with centre bands of beak heads. North aisle of 3-window range of 2-light Decorated windows with reticulated tracery. Similar 2- and 3-light east and west windows. Lean-to roof with ashlar gable parapets. Nave clerestory of 4-window range of 2-light square head windows with C19 tracery. Fine C10 west tower of 4 stages, each sett back, with long and short work at each corner. West door has capitals and blank arcading and moulding around the arch. All faces of the tower are decorated with lesenes which form a pattern of blank arcading to the base of the second stage and intersect diagonally to form a band of diamond shapes at the base of the third stage; the panels between are all rendered. Pair of window openings to south of first stage have shallow arch heads with short colonnettes and cross lights. Remains of similar openings to west face. Second stage has door opening to ird stage has single-light pointed-head window openings to each face. Narrow five-light arch-head bell-chamber openings to each face of fourth stage have colonnettes between. Several other minor openings are probably C10. Castellated parapet is probably C14. Remains of circular sundial or consecration stone to south face of first stage. Interior: 3-bay nave arcade of double-chamfered arches, those to the south are late C13 with octagonal piers and those to the north are early C14. C13 triple-chamfered chancel arch has early C12 double-shafted responds. C13 double-chamfered tower arch has late C13 plain responds with many scalloped capitals. Late C12 decoration around the top of the arch was probably reset. Late C12 five and six-bay blank arcading with zig-zag decoration to north and south walls of chancel. Similar triple stepped sedilia to south wall has been altered. C14 recess to left. C19 roof structures. C17 carved panelled pulpit. Perpendicular s stored and repainted mid C19. C19 font. Monuments: brasses to John Muscote died 1512 and his wife, wall mounted to south of tower arch. 3 early C19 tablets with figures and urn above, to Whitworth family in tower and to south of chancel. Other C19 tablets. Most nave and chancel windows have C19 and early C20 stained glass. The tower is said to date from c.970 and it is suggested that a narrow chancel may have been directly attached as the long and short work is visible to ground level he east face.

{18} Mention in an article on Anglo-Saxon long-and-short-quoins.

{23} Undated photo;

{29} (SP 85196381) Ch (TI)

{30} In normal use. See photo.

{34} Notes, measurements, sketches, drawings, a rubbing and a photograph;

{35} Letter from vicar requesting donations for preservation of tower dated September 1883;

{36} Photo of church, lifesize brass rubbings, painting of church door, drawings and measurements of parts of church, groundplan of tower;

{37} Geophysical survey located an apsidal-ended structure, possibly an Anglo-Saxon mausoleum, due west of the tower-nave.

{39} Photo dated March 1965;

<1> 1926, The Antiquaries Journal, p.417 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN32068.

<2> 1878, The Archaeological Journal (35), p.264+436-7 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN15197.

<3> Lee M., 2004, Henry Penn, Bellfounder, 1685-1729, p.41-53 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109357.

<4> 1887, The Archaeological Journal (44), p.246 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN32071.

<5> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, 40 p.16-19 (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<6> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<7> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.138-39 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<8> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.195-6 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<9> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77383.

<10> Audouy M., 1980, All Saints Church, Earls Barton, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN57438.

<11> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.12-13 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44832.

<12> Shaw M. (Editor), 1993, Northamptonshire: Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit, Report for 1992, p.46-7 (unchecked) (Report). SNN39924.

<13> Hall D. (Editor), 1980, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (10), p.29-32 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN22466.

<14> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<15> Audouy M., 1981, Excavations at All Saints Church, Earls Barton, p73 (Article). SNN72501.

<16> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 20/30 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<17> 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G05 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100394.

<18> 2005, The Archaeological Journal (162), p.185 (checked) (Journal). SNN107450.

<19> Audouy M.; Dix B.; Parsons D., 1995, The Tower of All Saints' Church, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire: its construction and context, 73-94 (Article). SNN58002.

<20> 2007, Medieval Archaeology (51), p.74 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN106580.

<21> Potter, J.F., 2010, A Geological Review of Some Early Churches in the Northamptonshire Area, (unchecked) (Article). SNN107495.

<22> Hart A., 1997, All Saints' Church, Earls Barton - A Brief History and Guide, (unchecked) (Guide). SNN109369.

<23> Photographs of buildings in Earls Barton (Photographs). SNN111649.

<24> Cadman G.E., 1991, Earls Barton Church, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN54657.

<26> 1882, The Archaeological Journal (39), p.84 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN14407.

<27> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 241-3 (Book). SNN111989.

<28> 1953, The Archaeological Journal (110), p. 196 Plan (C A R (Journal). SNN59424.

<29> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1958 (Map). SNN112944.

<30> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 02-SEP-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<31> Historic England, Undated, All Saints Church, Earl's Barton, BF090756 (Archive). SNN114622.

<32> Historic England, Undated, All Saints Church, Earl's Barton (Archive). SNN114623.

<33> CLARKE G., 1850 (circa), George Clarke Collection (Drawing). SNN71845.

<34> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/96/2-4, 6, 8-10, 12-15, 19, 20, 24 (Archive). SNN115.

<35> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/96/11 (Archive). SNN115.

<36> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/96/1,5,7,16-18,21-23 (Archive). SNN115.

<37> Wright, D, Chaussee, S, Creighton, O, Gould, D, and Shapland, M, 2024, Geophysical and topographical survey at Berry Mount and All Saints Churchyard, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN116589.

<38> Shapland, M G, 2012, Buildings of Secular and Religious Lordship: Anglo-Saxon Tower-nave churches (Dissertation). SNN116590.

<39> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

Jan 22 2025 12:12PM