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St Lawrence, Radstone, Northamptonshire

Location
(52°3′35″N, 1°8′37″W)
Radstone
SP 588 405
pre-1974 traditional (England and Wales) Northamptonshire
now Northamptonshire
  • Ron Baxter

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Description

St Lawrence's has a 12thc. W tower and nave to which a tall, hall-church-like S aisle has been added. The arcade is apparently 14thc., and its two E capitals are carved with elaborate naturalistic foliage. There are N and S nave doorways, the latter under a porch. The chancel is early 13thc. to judge from the priest's doorway, although the chancel arch is later.

The tower, of stone rubble, has a plain 12thc. window on the ground storey, W face, and c.1200 bell-openings on all faces except the S. It was originally of three storeys, and the third has been heightened in ashlar and given a gabled roof. This was done in the 14thc., when new bell-openings were added on all faces except the N. The church was restored in 1853-55. The tower arch, tower bell-openings and font are included here.

History

Earl Hugh held Radstone in 1086, and Robert from him. No church was recorded then. The earliest documentary evidence for the church is in the 13thc., when it was described as a daughter chapel of Marston St Lawrence.

Benefice of Helmdon with Stuchbury and Radstone, and Syresham with Whitfield, Lois Weedon with Weston and Plumpton and Wappenham.

Features

Exterior Features

Windows

Interior Features

Arches

Tower/Transept arches

Furnishings

Fonts

Comments/Opinions

Pevsner credited the church with a N aisle too. He compared the foliage decoration in the S arcade to the doorway at Kislingbury.

Bibliography
G. Baker, The History and Antiquities of the County of Northampton. 2 vols, London, 1822-41, I, 675.
J. Bridges, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire. (Compiled from the manuscript collections of the late learned antiquary J. Bridges, Esq., by the Rev. Peter Whalley). Oxford 1791, I, 191.
N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire. Harmondsworth 1961, rev. B. Cherry 1973, 381.