SNN105922 - Archaeological Recording Action at The Church of St Denys, Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire

A Recording Action was carried out on archaeological remains exposed during remedial works to the foundations of the East wall of the chancel. The remains included parts of brick burial vaults and a brick-built and blocked archway though the foundations of the East wall of the chancel. This burial complex lies within a railed enclosure immediately East of the chancel which today contains only the chest tomb of the 1st Lord Bateman (dated 1845). Lord Bateman was a member of the Hanbury family. Many Hanburys are buried in the church and the archway through the East wall of the chancel could be a burial niche or a link between burial vaults below the chancel and within the railed enclosure. The foundation of what appears to be an angled buttress of an earlier church was exposed at the NE corner of the chancel. A second, rather fragmentary stone structure was revealed at the SE corner of the chancel, however, there are indications that this post-dates the present chancel foundations.