Bright and Beautiful Visitchurches.Org.Uk/Daysout 1

Historic churches in Northamptonshire Warwickshire delight in the bright and beautiful visitchurches.org.uk/daysout 1

a thousand years of history Explore the historic churches of Northamptonshire and Warwickshire – bold, beautiful survivors of tumultuous times.

These buildings have survived centuries of change – scourges such as the Black Death and times when entire villages were moved at the will of an all-powerful lord. They all have beautiful treasures but, in many cases, it is the stories they tell that will stay with you. All the churches in this leaflet have been saved by The Churches Conservation Trust. The Trust is a charity that cares for more than 340 churches in England. This is one of 18 leaflets that highlight their history and treasures. be dazzled For more information on the other guides in this series, spectacular Norman carvings of beasts as well as interactive maps and downloadable information, and birds and dazzling mosaics adorn see visitchurches.org.uk St Peter’s, Northampton Northampton, St Peter 1 Billesley, All Saints 2 Northamptonshire Warwickshire A 900-year-old Norman church filled with glorious A light-filled gem with a Shakespeare connection carved treasures • English Romanesque carvings and Georgian • One of the finest churches in Northamptonshire wall monuments • Restored in 1850 by famous Victorian architect • Picture-perfect church with an attractive bell turret and Sir George Gilbert Scott elegant clear glass windows St Peter’s stands in a pretty grassed churchyard in All Saints’ rises from a lovely wooded churchyard in the hamlet Northampton town centre, beside the buried remains of of Billesley near Stratford-upon-Avon. From its approach a Saxon palace. It can lay claim to being the most outstanding through an avenue of limes, it looks like a Georgian country Norman church in the county. Inside, great Norman arches church – but its origins go back 1,000 years. The church of plain and banded stone rise and flow with zigzag waves. served the thriving village of Billesley for centuries, but by 1428 They are supported by beautiful carved capitals, each only four parishioners were left, and the church’s north aisle overflowing with foliage, scrollwork, birds and beasts – look for was demolished. Even so, it is said that All Saints’ is where the man being swallowed by (or emerging from) a monster. Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582. These carvings were plastered over in the 17th century and In 1692, Bernard Whalley rebuilt the church as a fashionable were carefully unpicked with a bone knife in the early classical addition to his Billesley estate. He installed a gallery 19th century by local antiquarian Anne Elizabeth Baker, for his staff, complete with a butler’s boxed seat. Whalley’s a labour of love lasting 11 years. own pew had a fine classical fireplace. His body lies, with his Other highlights include a handsome brass lectern, carved wife Lucy’s, in a sealed vault beneath the sanctuary floor. wooden pews and monuments – including the bust of William Look for the spectacular 12th-century carvings in the vestry Smith, the father of British geology. Outside, strange half- showing Christ holding hands with an unknown figure and a human faces glare out from under the eaves, together with scene with animals, a soldier and wonderfully twisting foliage. cruder, timeworn figures. Billesley, Stratford-upon-Avon B49 6NF Marefair, Northampton NN1 1SR 4m W of Stratford-upon-Avon off A46 (follow signs Northampton city centre, opposite station to Billesley Manor Hotel, adjacent) Nearest railway station: Northampton (200 yds) Nearest railway stations: Wilmcote (2.5 miles) Opening times: Mar-Oct, Wed-Sat 10am-4pm; and Stratford-upon-Avon (4 miles) Nov-Feb, Wed-Sat, 11am-3pm Open daily More churches to enjoy Each CCT church has been saved because it is special. We can’t do justice to them all in one leaflet, so visit our website for more information on those only briefly described here. 3 Aldwincle, All Saints Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Blatherwycke, Holy Trinity 5 A Medieval wonder A lovely lakeside church that dates back to the 12th in a pretty village century, Holy Trinity has dazzling stained glass and several beautiful monuments, one with a bequest of a ‘plum pudding This handsome square-towered church lies at the edge of the on Christmas day’ to six old, poor men in the parish. picturesque village of Aldwincle near the river Nene. The elegant Medieval interior is almost cavernous in feel, with few furnishings Main Street, Blatherwycke, Stamford PE8 6YW 9m SW of Stamford off A43 – offering a rare chance to see a church up close. The 17th- century poet John Dryden was born nearby and baptized in the Open daily church – his grandfather was the rector. Look out for strange carved birds, beasts and other creatures on the exterior. Cranford, St Andrew 6 Sumptuous memorials to three hundred years of the Thorpe Road, Aldwincle, Kettering NN14 3EA Robinson family fill the south chapel of Medieval St Andrew’s, 12m NE of Kettering off A605 which lies next to the Robinson seat of Cranford Hall. Nearest railway stations: Kettering (10 miles) Grafton Road, Cranford, Kettering NN14 4AQ Open daily 4m E of Kettering, just off A14 Open daily

Deene, St Peter 7 This 13th-century estate church in Deene Park has many visitchurches.org.uk/daysout monuments to Brudenells, including one to James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, who led the Charge of the Light Brigade. 4 Deene, Corby NN17 3EJ Wolfhamcote, 10m SW of Stamford off A43 St Peter Keyholder nearby Warwickshire A church with a hard Furtho, St Bartholomew 8 shell and a soft heart Survivor of a lost Medieval village, this 900-year-old

Spend a day with us Spend a day church stands by a circular dovecote in farm surroundings. This remote Medieval church sprawls across its rough-tufted Inside it is tranquil and atmospheric. churchyard, the sole survivor of the lost village of Wolfhamcote, now buried to the north. Its crooked windows, stout buttresses Furtho, Old Stratford, Milton Keynes MK19 6NR 10m S of Northampton off A508 and multicoloured patchwork stone give it a tough, almost brutish appearance, but inside it is ordered and serene. Open daily Limewashed walls scatter the light from huge windows on oak benches and a beautifully carved 14th-century screen. Holdenby, All Saints 9 The beamed roof of the chancel is a rustic marvel. This 14th-century church is the last remnant of a village demolished to make way for a mansion for Elizabeth I’s Lord Wolfhamcote, Daventry CV23 8AR Chancellor. Inside, it has painted texts, elegant memorials and an impressive 16th-century screen. It was restored in 1867 by 4m NW of Daventry off A425, signposted from Braunston, 2m NE of Flecknoe off A425 Sir George Gilbert Scott. Nearest railway station: Long Buckby (7 miles) Holdenby Road, Holdenby, Northampton NN6 8DJ Open weekends during the summer; at other times 6m NW of Northampton between A428 and A5199 keyholder nearby Keyholder nearby Preston Deanery, St Peter & St Paul 10 Chadshunt, All Saints 15 Wonderful 1,000-year-old carvings of a snake, fan-tailed A long, low, massive church in a flower-filled churchyard birds and a strange animal adorn this simple church. Before overlooking the Civil War battle site of Edge Hill. Inside, restoration in 1620, the church’s chancel was used as a dog it is bright and light with gorgeous 16th-century Italian kennel and its tower as a pigeon house! glass windows. Preston Deanery, Northampton NN7 2DX Off Watery Lane, Chadshunt, Kineton CV35 0EH 4m SE of Northampton off B526 2m SW of M40 Junction 12, off Gaydon to Kineton road Open Mar-Oct, daily; at other times keyholder nearby Open daily

Upton, St Michael 11 Relic of a deserted Medieval village, St Michael’s has a rough stone interior and beautiful Victorian benches. 1 Monuments include the life-sized figure of Puritan Richard Knightley, who died in 1615. Upton Lane, Upton, Northampton NN5 4UX 2m W of Northampton on A45 Keyholder nearby

Wakerley, St John the Baptist 12 This Medieval church, with its magnificent tower and spire, stands prominently on a hillside above the Welland Valley. Inside, it has a spectacular 12th-century chancel arch, which rests on some of the finest carved capitals in England. Main Street, Wakerley, Stamford LE15 8PA 7m SW of Stamford off A43 Keyholder nearby visitchurches.org.uk/joinus Warwickshire Avon Dassett, St John the Baptist 13 This Victorian church, built in 14th-century Gothic style, is set amongst the Dassett hills – a lovely place for a walk. The high-ceilinged interior is inspiring – and it contains an exquisite 13th-century figure of a deacon. Avon Dassett, Southam CV47 2AH 12m NW of Banbury off B4100, 4m S of M40 Junction 12 Become a supporter Open Sat and Sun 10am-4pm; at other times keyholder nearby

Brownsover, St Michael & All Angels 14 Beautiful woodwork fills this 12th-century church, which was almost entirely rebuilt by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1876. There is a lovely organ case, made in 1660 for St John’s College, Cambridge. Brownsover Lane, Brownsover, Rugby CV21 1HY 1m N of Rugby and 2m S of M6 Junction 1 off A426 Key available from Brownsover Hall Hotel A968

A970

A968

A970

A971

A970

A966

A986

A967 A 965

A964 A960

A961

A836

A99 A838 A836

A838 A897 A857 A882

A9 A A858 8 5

A894 A99

A858 A866

A836 A859 A837 A838 A9 A897

A859

A835 A837 A839 A839 A9

A837 A836

A859 A832 A949

A836

A835

A832 865A A942 A867 A862 A832 A96 A98 A832 A90 A98 A834 A941 A981 A855 A9 A87 A896 A835 A96 A950 A95

A850 A890 A940 A95 A97 A952

A947 A982 A862 A939 A920 A948

A96 A863 A82 A90 A865 A833 A9 A831 A941 A87 A890 A920

A975 A920 A95 A938

A87 A97 A947

A90 A887 A939 A87 A944 A96 A944 A851 A97 A9 A939 A980 A87 A888 A82

A93 A93 A86 A90

A957 A889

A830 A86 A93

A861

A861 A82 A90 A92

A937 A861 A924 A935

A82

A932 A934 A884 A926 A933 A848 A828 A94

A A826 A92 2 A94 9 A9 3 2 A90 A984 8 A827 A92 A923 A9 A93 A85 A822

A85 A94 A90

A849 A919 A85

4 1 9

A M90 A82 A819 A913 A91 2 A92 2 A917 8 A A823 A912 A816 A83 A821 A84 A9 A91 A914 A815 A916 A911 A915 A81 A873 A91 A823M90

A83 A811 A977 A907 A92 A817 A909 A815 A985 A886 A875 M876 M9 A921 A809 M80 A814 A811 A81 A198

A90 A891 A82 A199 A846 A8 A803 A801 M9 A80 A1 A886 A761 M80 A73 6093 A M8 M73 A89 A1107 M8 A720 A1 A78 A705 A8 A73 A71 A844 A847 A760 A846 A702 A68 A6105 A70

A6 A703 M77 A721 A7 A726 112 A736 A706 A737 A697 A6105 A72 A721 A701 M74 A72 A698

A735 A1 A83 A6 A71 A73 A71 A72 089

A7 8 A70 A77 A7 A6091 A698

A76 A699A68 A702 A841 A719 A70 A708 A697 A701 A70

A698

A719 A6088

A702 A713 A76 A7 A1 A77 A68

A1068

A701 A702 M74(M) A696 A76

A712 A68 A189 A709 A1

A77 A714 A75 A19 A712 A713 A6079

A718 A711 A6071 A7 A69 A A75 A69 A762 689 A75 A695 A1 A710 A77 A69 A689 A686 A755

A716 A747 A746 A68 A A690 A6 A711 692 A 691 A182 A596 M6 A181 A595 A689 A1086 690A167 A A594 A591 A686 A1(M) A177 A19 A689 A68 A66 A689 A5091 A66 A66

A595 A592 A6 A5086 A688 A66 A174 CUMBRIA A67 A591 A66 A592 A19 A171 A66 A685 A595 A167 A6

A172

A6136 A683 A171 A 591 A685

A593 A684 A168

A5084

A684 A19 A169 A65 A684 A167 A5093 A592 M6 A590 A1 A6108 A170

A683 A170 A65

A1039

A595 A6 A168 A64 A165 A6 NORTH YORKSHIRE 87 A65 A5087 A1(M)

A19 A64

A168 A683 A614

A61 A166 A6055 A59 A59 A661 A59 A629 A65 A64 A614 A588 A1079 A165 A682 A658 A6 A659 LANCASHIRE A164 M6 A6068 A650 A1(M) A19 A1035 A56 A165 A59 A1079 585 A A162 A586 A1034 A64 M55 A163

A614 A164 A583 M65 A646 A6033 A63 7 M62 A6 7 A63 A A63 A584 1041 A1033 A59 A666 A56 A681 6033 A M62 A581 A58 A1077 A15 M6 A675 A642 A6 A160 A570 M62 A61 A1 M61 38 M66 A19 A565 A18 A180 A49 A628 A58 A636 M180 A62 A59 A635 A18 M60 A614 M58 A629 A635 28 M1 A6 A46 A616 A1031 A161 A16 A580 A

6 A630 A159 A15 1 A1(M) 0 M18 M57 A57 2 A5025 A631 M62 M60 M67 A631 A631 A57 A57 A41 A620 A156 A157 M56 A1500 A548 A6187 A625 A616 A157 M53 A623 A1104 A5 A46 A1111 M56 A533 A A153 A16 A5151 A540 556 A61 A614 A545 A621 A1 A158 A55 A55 A537 A619 A60 A1028 A541 M6 A55 A56 A632 A57 A548 A50 A52 A470 A54 A619 A34 A54 A6075 A544 A54 A4080 A536 A515 A61 A525 A6 A616 A1133 A158 A5 A55 M1 A15 A632 A46 A155 A4086 A41

A34 A53

A543 A541 A38 A530 A5012 A617 A16 A A483 A51 A153 4 A527 A494 A534 A49 0 A60 A17 8 A523 A607 5 A5014 A DERBYSHIRE A611 A614 6 A52 A498 NOTTINGHAM-0 A487 A500 9 LINCOLNSHIRE A542 A52 7 A5 A610 SHIRE A46 A499 A517 A1 A530 A1121 A525 A6 A38 A149 A525 A52 A153 A17 A50 A497 A52 A4212 A52 A5 A495 STAFFORDSHIRE A52 A152 A16 A148 M6 A46 A149 A515

A519 A499 A51 A50 A149 A50 A41 A453 A470 A528 A34 A606 A607 A496 A5013 A148 A A518 A151 A15 A60 A6006 A17 A A49 442 A494 A5 A53 A151 1078 A151 NORFOLK A140 A518 A514 M1 A1067 A A490 A42 A513 A512 A46 1062 A34 A38 A1101 A149 A 511 A470 A41 A47 A6 A16 A47 A1065 A47 A495 A483 A607 A1 A458 A51 7 A458 A5 A5 A606 10 8 Finding A1073 6 4 A5 A449 A5190 A 4 LEICESTERSHIRE

A A46 A47 A493 A447 Stamford M42 A470 A490 our churchesA464 M54 A1 A1122 Tamworth The map opposite shows the location of each Leicester A6121 1 2 2 A488 A47

A470 A47 A146 of our churches in Northamptonshire and A A489 M6 Toll A47 A1139 A1075 A12

6 A47 A1101 A134

A444 A493 Warwickshire, together with other nearby attractions 0 12 A605 A11 0

3 A458 A43 Hinckley A6 A10 A143 and CCT churches in adjoining counties. 5 A483 A454 A38 D A49 M6 A489 A446 7 A489 Our website, visitchurches.org.uk, A458has much more Nuneaton C Corby A427 Market A140 detailed information to help you plan your trip. M69 A5 A427 A605 A141 A426 Harborough A1(M) A470 Oundle A144 M6 A145 A487 Ordnance Survey ref BIRMINGHAM A143 A442 A616 E A488 A1066 A44 1 Northampton, St Peter (cover image) SP 74971 60377 A45 A4304 3 A1101 M6 CAMBRIDGESHIREA142 M1 Thrapston A1065 2 Billesley, All Saints A449 SP 148 568 A452 A14 6 Kettering A141 A1088 Coventry A5199 A11 A4120 A4141 14 3 Aldwincle, All SaintA4117s TLA448 011 814 A14 Rugby A142 A143 A4113 A1123 M42 B A46 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 4 Wolfhamcote, St Peter SP 530 653 A134 M45 A43 A45 A4177 Royal A11

A485 A45 A483 A456 A12 5 Blatherwycke, Holy Trinity SP 974 957 A508 A140 A4110 Wellingborough A44 Leamington A10 Spa A428 9 A14 A470 6 Cranford, St Andrew A443 SP 925 773 Rushden A488 WORCESTERSHIRE Redditch 4 A435 Warwick A425 Daventry A1 A14 7 DeeneA49, StA4112 Peter SP 952 928 F A45 A14 J Northampton A6 A10 M5 Southam 11 A1120 94 A44 A44 8 Furtho, St Bartholomew SP 773 431 1 A482 2 Stratford- A428 A423

A44 A422 upon-Avon A428 A1198 A481 9 Holdenby, All Saints SP 692 676 A46 A 13 G A143 A4111 10 A509 A4112 A417 10 Preston Deanery, St Peter & St Paul SP 788 556 A46 Bedford A603 A12 15 M1 A11 A44 WARWICKSHIREM40 H A14 A487 11 Upton SP 717 603 A422 A361 SUFFOLK , St Michael A508 A422 A603 A1307 A134 A486 A38 Towcester A480 I 8 A1141 A483 A438 12 WakerleyA465, St John the Baptist SP 956 992 A1092 A4103 Silverstone A5 A505 A475 A600 A482 A470 A438 13 Avon Dassett, St John the Baptist SP 410 502 A3400 A421 A1071 A43 A413 A429 Banbury A1 14 Brownsover, St Michael & All Angels SP 508 774 507 A1017 A4104 Milton A A505 A134 A14 A A422 A12 A487 A46 4 Brackley Keynes

8 15 Chadshunt, All Saints SP 349 531 CENTRAL 4 A485 A44 A10 Moreton- A361 A40 A479 A49 BEDFORDSHIRE A40 A465 in-Marsh A421 M11 A131 M50 A A4146 A507 4 A6 CCT churches in neighbouring counties. GLOUCESTERSHIRE 13 A487 A449 A4069 For details, go to visitchurches.org.uk or see the M5 A505 A1124 A137 A A466 M1 A38 A435 A5 A120 relevant county guide. A4421 A478 4215 A4137 Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey ® on behalf of The Controller of HMSO

A44 A4260 © Crown Copyright 2012 A40 A424 OXFORDSHIRE A602 A470 4095 BUCKING- A120 A40 A436 A A120 A G Canons Ashby – house, gardens 133 A40 A483 Other local heritage attractions A12 HAMSHIRE A418 A1(M) A48 A Charlecote Park – house, gardens, deer park A34 H FarnboroughA41 Hall – house, gardens A4146 A131 A40 A484 A435 I 67 A417 B KenilworthA40 Castle – castle, Elizabethan garden Upton House – house, gardens, art collection HERTFORDSHIRE A1060 40 A130 A474 A465 A4136 A A A46 C Rockingham Castle – house, gardensA4095 J Mary Arden’s Farm – oneA413 of the Shakespeare houses 4075 A477 A4066 A414 A4076 A40 A418 A10 D KirbyA429 Hall – house, gardens A A A476 GLOUCESTERSHIRE A415 A40 A414 4 4010www.english-heritage.org.ukA41 A465 A469 6 A466 E Lyveden New Bield – Elizabethan Lodge, garden, moat A414 M4 7 Telephone 0870 333 1181 A38 A416 M25 A48 F Althorp – house, gardens,A361 exhibition A4074 A40 A4139 A419 ESSEX A417 A113 A130 A4042 A4135 A449 A1 A12 M1 4063 A 7 A329 A1 10 A48 A433 2 4 M40 8 A483 A A419 A355 M25 A127 A4118 M48 M5 A338 A4061 A403 A420 A46 A429 A470 A468 A417 A4130 A12 A48 A41 M4 A 4

A10 M25 A473 A34 0 A40 74 M4 1 M4 A13 A48 6 A346 A4 A4232 3 M4 A3102 4 A M4 A48 A420 A329 A330 A205 A228 M4 A2 A46 A316 A342 A20 A4 A4 A4 A4 A4 A321 A24 A232 A249 A299

A228 A37 A346 A322 M25 A38 A327 M3 M20

A227 A290 A28 A370 A338 A340 A2 A320 A291

A36 A350 A368 A225 61 A30 M2 A39 A3 A257 A367 A339 M26

A368 A3 A251 A342 A34 A25 A33 M25 A366 A20 A252 A371 A37 A25 A256 A39 A345 A343 A2 A360 A287 A274 M20 A339 A28 A367 A217

A338 A21

A39 A229 A361 SURREYA25 A24 A22 M5 A303 A228

A287 A31 M23 A260 A258 A3123 A39 A36 A20 A399 A39 A39 A350 HAMPSHIREM3 A361 A361 A343 A29 A39 A38 A281 A A33 A264 A39 A272 359 A325 A A338 3 A262 A28

3 A37 0 A A396 A267

5 5

8 A30 7 A2070 A A303 371 A3 A268 A361SOMERSET A31 A283 A26 A259 A372 A32 A29 A272 A21 A39 A303 A30 A286 A361 A338 WEST SUSSEX A27 A3090 A272 A 272 A354 A36

A A265 A3 A378 A30 A303 A359 281 58 A39 A24 A275 A23 EAST SUSSEX A28 A350 A283 A357 M27 A22 A386 A3124 A259 A388 A377 A38 A285 A273 A3 A26 A271 M5 A303 A30 030 A354 A286 A283 A326 M27 A3(M) A29

A37 A31 A27 A27 A337 A396 DORSET A27 A35 A27 A22 A27 2 A352 07 A373 A356 3 A350 A3072 A A259 A3066 A32 A3072 A30 M275 A358 A35 A388 A3079 A354 A31 A39 A30 A35 A35 52 A30 30 A35 A375 A

A376 A395 DEVON A352 A351 A39 A382 A379 A353 A386

A354 A30 A38

A380

A388

A389

A379 A38 90 A39 A3

A381 A386 A392 A30 A385

A391 A387 A3058 A38 A3075 A3122 A379 A3121 A30

A39 A381

A390 A381

A393 A30 A379 A3074 A39 A3078

A39 A3071

A394 A30

A3083

A3110 ISLES OF SCILLY Find out more Welcome to a thousand Our website has a host of additional information years of English history that will help you plan and enjoy your visit, including: • Interactive maps The Churches Conservation Trust is the national • Filterable lists of all our churches charity protecting historic churches at risk. • Up to date opening times We’ve saved over 340 beautiful buildings • Visitor comments which attract more than 1.5 million visitors a year. • Downloadable guides With our help and with your support they are • Image galleries kept open and in use – living once again at the heart of their communities. • Event listings Go to visitchurches.org.uk to access all this and more. Visiting information Go to visitchurches.org.uk for detailed directions, local maps, information on disability access and up to date opening times. For other enquiries, call us on 020 7213 0660 (Monday – Friday, office hours), or [email protected] Please take care when visiting our churches. Floors may be uneven/worn or slippery, and interior lighting may be low.

Assistance dogs are welcome. For full disabled access information, see our website. Unsure about the ‘keyholder nearby’ access? You will find details at the church or call us in advance. Parking is available at most churches – see the website for more details.

The closest station for each church is shown in the guide. For bus routes, see traveline.org.uk Cyclists welcome! For cycle routes, go to sustrans.org.uk Help us save historic churches The CCT needs to raise an additional £1.5million every year just to cover essential repairs. If you enjoy your visit please leave a donation at the church, or go to visitchurches.org.uk/donate for details of how you can help.

Become a fan visitchurches.org.uk facebook.com/ChurchesConservationTrust The Churches Conservation Trust Follow us 1 West Smithfield, London EC1A 9EE twitter.com/TheCCT Registered Charity No: 258612 © CCT 2011