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I Location

II General Description

St John's has a clerestoreyed nave with four-bay aisles. The arcades are early 14thc., and some of the S aisle windows date from the same time. Those in the N aisle are 19thc. replacements. The nave doorways are both of c.1300, but the S doorway has had a Tudor four-centred arch inserted and is under a 13thc. porch, while the N is unprotected. The chancel arch is of c.1300, but the chancel itself is Perpendicular with an east window of five lights. The W tower dates from the end of the 12thc., and the broach spire from the early 14thc. Romanesque features here described are the late 12thc. tower arch and bell-openings, and a fragment of an arcaded font bowl.

III Exterior Features

2. Windows

(i) W tower, S bell-opening

Pointed, two orders. The inner order consists of a twin lancet with chamfered jambs and arch, and a chamfered central shaft carrying a worn volute capital on which traces of the necking survive. It has no impost block. The arch above the capital had chamfer stops, but their form is lost. The outer enclosing arch is unchamfered, and is supported by worn volute capitals, their neckings practically worn away, with chamfered imposts. The capitals are carried on en-delit nook-shafts, and the arch has a chamfered label, almost entirely replaced.

(ii) W tower, W bell-opening

Pointed, two orders. The inner order consists of a twin lancet with chamfered jambs and arch, and a chamfered central shaft with chamfer stops at the top. There are pyramid chamfer stops on the arch above the capital too. The outer enclosing arch is unchamfered, and is supported by worn volute (N) or waterleaf (S) capitals with plain roll neckings, much damaged, and chamfered imposts. The capitals are carried on en-delit nook-shafts, and the arch has a chamfered label, partly replaced.

(iii) W tower, N bell-opening

Pointed, two orders. As W bell-opening. The second order capitals are too worn to describe.

(iv) W tower, E bell-opening

Pointed, two orders. As W bell-opening. The second order S capital is waterleaf, its necking lost. The N is a replacement volute capital with roll necking.

IV Interior Features

1. Arches

b. Tower/Transept arches

(i) Tower arch

W arch

Pointed, of three orders to E, two orders to W First order (shared). Semi-octagonal coursed half columns without bases supporting semi-octagonal capitals, waterleaf on the S and flat leaf on the N, each type with a main leaf on each angle and a small leaf tip behind the main leaves in the centre of each face. The neckings are chamfered and the capitals have vertical abaci and no impost blocks. The arch has a deep chamfer to E and W. Second order, E face. Plain square jambs and arch, with capitals of the same type as the first order (i.e. waterleaf on the S and flat leaf on the N). Second order, W face. Plain square jambs and arch, the arch falling on the abaci of the first order capitals. Third order (E face only). As second order E face.

VI Loose Sculpture

(i) Font bowl fragment

On the sill of the south aisle W window. A section of a rectangular font bowl consisting of the upper part of one face with its upper rim and the angle to the right of the face. The form of the circular basin is visible on the reverse. The face is carved with two bays of a round-headed arcade in relief: the arches with angle rolls, the fictive capitals with flat leaves at the angles and roll neckings, and the shafts half-round. The angle of the bowl is chamfered, and the first shaft of the adjacent face, similar to those described above, is linked to the last shaft of the main face by a pointed arch, also with an angle roll. The arch encloses a flat leaf, and this forms the chamfer stop at the top of the angle. The chamfer itself is carved with a figure-of-eight in relief, three loops of which survive. On the reverse, part of the circular inner basin can be seen.

Dimensions

VII History

Harringworth was held by Countess Judith in 1086. No church was recorded.

Benefice of Bulwick and Blatherwycke with Harringworth and Laxton.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The tower arch dates from c.1180-1200, and the bell-openings are presumably a few years later than the arch. Interestingly the same kind of fictive capitals appear on the font fragment, which suggests a similar date. This kind of thing is not uncommon in north Northamptonshire. Something very similar appears in the nave arcades at Warmington.

IX Bibliography