Monument record 1624/1 - Site of former All Saints church

Site of a mid to late 12th Century church, which was in ruins by 1562, and had been demolished by 1724. The site was excavated in 1965; an early church was almost entirely replaced, although the dates of construction for each phase were unclear. There were about 400 burials within and outside the church.The site has since been levelled and part of it has been built over.

{1} Excavated 1965 by Gwen Brown for min of works. Floor levels lost by bulldozer before excavation

{2} The church was one of two in Irthlingborough, but as early as 1428 it had only eight parishioners. Apparently in regular use in the early 16th century, by 1562 it was described as 'devastated and in utter ruin' and in the 17th century it was pulled down. Excavations on the site in 1965 revealed the whole plan of the building and four separate phases of construction starting with a 12th century structure were recognised. Some 400 skeletons were excavated.

{3} This church was extant in 1214.

{5} As early as 1428 there were only 8 parishioners, and in 1562 the church is said to have been 'devastated and in utter ruin'. The church had been pulled down long before Bridges wrote (d.1724), though considerable remains of it then existed. In 1849 only the foundations of the eastern and northern walls could be made out. The foundations are now only discernable for a few feet. A fragment of gravestone dated 1670 may indicate that the churchyard was in use until the close of the 17th century.

{6} Churchyard remained in use during C18th; vicars appointed by Abbot of Peterborough; last rector is recorded in 1719

{10} SP9507 7069.

{11} About 30 years ago, in forming a new road, just without the boundary walls of this churchyard, were disclosed a great number of human bones of large dimensions all huddled together [possibly resulting from churchyard clearance]

{13} Excavations in 1965 revealed that the earliest building, possibly mid-C12, had a nave, chancel and apse. In the C14 the chancel was lengthened and aisles and a west tower added. Nothing now remains.

{15} The site of the parish church was excavated and four phases of building were recorded. The earliest building was of the 3-unit type, with nave, chancel and apsidal presbytery, suggesting a mid-12th century date. In the 14th century, when fire had substantially damaged the earlier building, the church was enlarged. A new south wall was added, built of reused stone, some burnt; the chancel was enlarged and buttresses added at the north east and south east corners; arcades were intorduced and a substantial tower with spiral staircase alongside was added at the west end. Fragments of roof and floor tile and 14th century grisaille glass were associated with this phase. Phase III saw the addition of a large south porch, diagonal buttresses to the south wall and a strengthening buttress to the east wall, where niches had caused weakeneing. Light buildings added to the north east indicate the provision of a tomb-chapel or Easter sepulchre in phase IV. Burials were recovered alongside the outside walls, within the walls, in the floors and even in the masonry. Three had pewter chalices with them and many of the bodies had shroud pins; others were in oak coffins with bronze handles.

Fieldname: The Cuningeres

<1> BROWN G., 1966, All Saints Church, Irthlingborough; Part 1 of the reports and papers of The Northamptonshire Antiquarian Society, pp.4/16 (unchecked) (Discussion). SNN58064.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.58 site 15 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP97SE16 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> 1940, The Archaeological Journal (20), 217-452 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN54690.

<5> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.207 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<6> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.236-37 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<7> Northamptonshire Notes and Queries, 240 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN37987.

<9> Northamptonshire Notes and Queries, 175 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN58066.

<10> 1958, OS 6 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN37979.

<11> COLE J., 1838, The History and Antiquities of Higham Ferrers (With Notes on Rushden and Irthlingborough), p.223-4 (unchecked) (Book). SNN71019.

<12> 1637, PETERBORO DIOCESAN RECORDS CHURCH SURVEY, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN59866.

<13> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.268 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<14> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.754-6; (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<15> 1966, Medieval Archaeology (10), p. 187-9 (Journal). SNN58109.

<16> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<17> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, RAF CPE/UK/1925 2253-4 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<18> Historic England, Undated, All Saints Church, Irthlingborough, BF107347 (Archive). SNN114194.

<19> Jones, R T, 1975, Irthlingborough All Saints: Animal bone (Report). SNN115257.

<20> Mrs G Brown, 1967, Excavations and Fieldwork, 1966-67 (Note). SNN115491.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:03PM