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St John the Baptist, Werrington, Soke of Peterborough

Location
(52°36′50″N, 0°16′24″W)
Werrington
TF 170 032
pre-1974 traditional (England and Wales) Soke of Peterborough
now Peterborough
  • Ron Baxter

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Description

Nave and aisles with three-bay, 13thc. arcades and no clerestorey. There is no W tower, but a double bell-cote between nave and chancel. The chancel is aisleless with a 13thc. N chapel, now in use as a vestry. The nave has N and S doorways, the N giving access to a 2001 lavatory block at the W end of the N aisle; the S a reset 12thc. doorway under a medieval porch bearing the dates 1668 and 1892, which refer to restorations. There was a collapse at the NW corner of the nave, and this area, including the W bay of the N arcade, is a copy of the original dating from 1680 (date stone in W wall). A further restoration of the chancel was carried out in 1901-02. Construction is of thickly-mortared rough ashlar blocks with bands of more regular ashlar. Romanesque features described here are the chancel arch, S doorway and bell-cote.

History

A confirmation of the grant of lands to Peterborough (Medeshamstede) by Wulfhere, king of Mercia, in 664 includes Werrington, but this is generally thought to be a post-Conquest forgery. The manor was still held by Peterborough Abbey in 1086 (8 hides and 1 virgate), with a further three hides held by four of the abbot's knights. There was no mention of a church at this time.

Features

Exterior Features

Doorways

Exterior Decoration

Miscellaneous

Interior Features

Arches

Chancel arch/Apse arches
Comments/Opinions

The S doorway and chancel arch belong to the same campaign. A similar bell-cote may be seen at Peakirk, but set at the W end of the nave.

Bibliography

Victoria County History: Northamptonshire. II (1906)

N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England. Bedfordshire and the County of Huntingdon and Peterborough, Harmondsworth 1968, 365-66.