Monument record 1160/13/1 - All Saints Church (original medieval building)

The medieval church was largely destroyed by the fire of 1675, apart from the west tower and crypt, which were incorporated into the rebuilt church of 1676-1680 (HER no: 1160/13/2)

{1}Originally cruciform structure with aisled chancel & central tower & north & south transepts & clearstoried nave with north & south aisles; oldest parts appear to have dated from C12th; destruction of medieval fabric by fire of 1675 so complete that only tower & small crypt below chancel survived & were incorporated within present structure; present church stands on site of medieval chancel; rest of church west of tower completely destroyed; no authentic drawings of medieval church been found; in description of 1675 by Henry Lee old chancel described as very large & church itself as large as cathedral; church had 3 aisles; in 1534-5 middle roof was made & raised "high & lofty"; chapel erected in 1539 by mayor; also old strong building adjoining south side of chancel in which were stairs to crypt; no evidence has been found of pre-Conquest work; grant from Bishop of Lincoln in 1232 suggests considerable building works at this time; variety of alterations undertaken in C14th; existing crypt dated to early C14th & upper part of tower seems to be very little later; church fabric recorded as being in great decay from 1595; lower part of surviving tower incorporates much C12th masonry; tower 12ft.11in. Square internally; more details given of tower; crypt lies under western part of present chancel & extends about 4ft below nave; originally 22ft.10in square internally & about 14ft high; now houses heating aparatus & has been considerably altered over time;

{4}Medieval church was burnt down in fire of 1675 except for west tower & crypt below chancel; lower parts of surviving masonry may go back to C12th; crypt could be C13th; crypt lies below west part of present chancel & has central octagonal pier & 4 compartments with simply chamfered rib-vaults; tower mostly C14th; upper part of tower was repaired in 1617 & balustraded probably in late C17th; cupola is 1704 addition; rest of church was rebuilt 1676-80;{2}Shows cruciform building with central tower;

{3}Illustration of 1669 indicates long nave of 7 bays with west gable flanked by turrets or pinnacles; restoration work on later church in 1865-6 revealed much intra-mural burial; graves were arched over or covered with stone slabs & whole area within walls covered with bed of concrete; small crypt or bonehouse found under middle part of south aisle was filled up at this time;

{5}Church was destroyed in fire of 1675;

{6}Tower of Decorated architecture escaped destruction in 1675 & rears its head above rest of church; upon entering present church arches are seen under tower which originally led to aisles of former church; original nave extended as far as west gate; eastward chancel reached to within 10ft of present termination; under chancel is part of original crypt in which is placed stove for warming church; arches are groined & capitals plainly moulded; crypt appears to be coeval with tower;

{7}Requests for burials in original church included Simon Brafield in 1492 & John Carter in 1527 & Thomas Doddington in 1530 & W.Bownde in 1535 & Gylberd Townson in 1545; other dedications listed & date mainly to late C15th & first half of C16th; included donations for works to fabric of building;

{9} Features; 1975; George Row; GPO trenches; large blocks of ironstone; poss foundations of pre-1675 church of All Saints;

{10} Sketch and measurements of section of capital of centre column in crypt;

{11} Discussion of a number of the images and monuments within All Saints Church recorded by four visitors to the town in the first half of the 17th century (prior to its destruction by the 1675 fire of Northampton).

<1> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire- The Borough of Northampton, p.48-51 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<2> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (checked) (Map). SNN559.

<3> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1901, HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS, 160 (Uncertain). SNN44553.

<4> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.317-19 (checked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.121; Handwritten notes in NDC SMR File M190;; (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<6> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.67-70+plate (checked) (Book). SNN1032.

<7> Serjeantson R.M.; Longden Isham H., 1913, The Parish Churches & Religious Houses of Northamptonshire: Their Dedications, Altars etc., p.155-61 (checked) (Extract). SNN1080.

<8> Dryden H.E.L., 1887, The Former Chancel of All Saints Church, Northampton, and the Crypt Under It, p.124-26 + Plates (checked) (Series). SNN58241.

<9> 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.

<10> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/198/711 (Archive). SNN115.

<11> Holder, S, 2021, The Lost Heraldic Images of All Saints Church, Northampton (Article). SNN116716.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 9:53AM