St Andrew, Arthingworth, Northamptonshire

I Location

Site Location
Arthingworth
National Grid Reference
SP 755 814
County
traditional: Northamptonshire
now: Northamptonshire
Diocese
medieval: Lincoln
now: Peterborough from 1539
Dedication
medieval: St Andrew 1510
now (or name of monument): St Andrew
Type of building/monument
Parish church

II General Description

Exterior from SE.

Exterior from SE.

Nave to E.

Nave to E.

St Andrew's has a nave with a S aisle but curiously a clerestorey on the N side only. The S arcade is of three bays and partly 12thc., but with one 19thc. pier. The nave has a 19thc. S doorway under a 19thc. porch. The chancel and its arch date from 1872, but to the S is a large late-13thc. chapel with a two-bay arcade. It now houses the organ and vestry. The W tower is of four storeys, Perpendicular in style and in fact for its lower storeys, although the upper parts are 19thc. Construction is of rough stone blocks except for the ashlar tower. The only Romanesque feature is the S arcade.

IV Interior Features

2. Arcades

c. Nave

(i) S arcade
Nave, S arcade from NW.

Nave, S arcade from NW.

Nave, S arcade from NE.

Nave, S arcade from NE.

Nave, S arcade, E impost.

Nave, S arcade, E impost.

Nave, S arcade, pier 1, capital.

Nave, S arcade, pier 1, capital.

Nave, S arcade, pier 2.

Nave, S arcade, pier 2.

Nave, S arcade, W impost.

Nave, S arcade, W impost.

Three bays, unmoulded pointed arches, chamfered to N and S, with plain chamfered labels on the nave side.

E impost: No respond, but a quirked hollow chamfered impost.

Pier 1: Cylindrical pier with a multi-scallop capital, square in plan with chamfered angles. The shields are grooved around their lower edges, and the cones have double wedges between. The impost block has a beaked hollow below the face.

Pier 2: A 19thc. pier in the form of a central rectangular core with half-columns applied to the E and W faces. These have separate multi-scallop capitals, also 19thc. W impost. Of two blocks, both chamfered, but the upper with smaller chamfer and taller vertical face.

VII History

The majority of Arthingworth, slightly more than two hides and a virgate, was held by Humphrey from the Count of Mortain in 1086. In addition to this, half a virgate belonged to the King's manor of Rothwell and Orton, and half a virgate to St Edmundsbury Abbey. No church is recorded.

Benefice of Arthingworth and Harrington with Oxendon and East Farndon.

VIII Comments/Opinions

Pevsner suggests that the form of the 19thc. pier 2 indicates that the 12thc. aisle ended at this point. If so, the W impost must be re-used, which is probable as it is unlike the E respond. The form of arches and imposts suggests a date at the very end of the 12thc.

IX Bibliography

  • N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire. Harmondsworth 1961, rev. B. Cherry 1973, 88-89.