NAVISFORD HUNDRED thorpe achurch 



plain parapet, and semi-circular hcaJcd side windows 

 with moulded architraves and sills. The east window 

 is of the three-light ' Venetian ' type, and the south 

 doorway has a semi-circular arch, pilasters, and broken 

 segmental pediment. The tower is of three stages, 

 witii balustraded parapet and angle pinnacles, 

 round-headed bell chamber windows, and west 

 doorway. 



There is no structural division of chancel and nave 

 inside, > coved plaster ceiling covering the whole 

 space. The font, pulpit, seating and wainsct)t are all 

 contemporary with the building. 



The vestry, or mortuary chapel, opens to the 

 sanctuary by a round stone arch and has a window 

 facing east. It contains an elaborate marble monu- 

 ment to Sir Edward Ward, knight. Lord Chief Baron 

 of the Exchequer (d. 1714), wdth reclining figure in 

 judge's robes, said to be by Rysbrack." In the 

 sanctuary is a canopied mural monument in marble 

 and alabaster to Mrs. Frances Palmer {J. 1628), wife 

 of Edward Palmer, Counsellcr at Law, and memorials 

 to Katharine {d. 1760), wife of Dr. Rowland Hunt, 

 rector, and to Hannah (d. 1819), wife of the Rev. R. 

 Roberts, curate, the latter by Chantrey. 



There is a ring of five bells by Thomas Eayre, of 

 Kettering, cast in the winter of 1727.'*' 



The plate consists of a cup and cover paten, flagon, 

 and two plates of 1734, each inscribed ' Stoke Doyle 

 in Northamptonshire.'" 



The registers begin in 1560. The first volume has 

 all entries to 1653, the second from 1654 to 1736, and 

 the third from 1736 to 181 2.*^ 



On the south side of the building is the base of a 

 churchyard cross, of somewhat unusual form, the 

 chamfered stops of which have scroll-like projec- 

 tions.*' 



Bridges records in the chancel of the old church a 

 stone 8 ft. long, on which was cut the name ' Ricardus 

 Ashton.'** 



A recumbent efTigy of a priest now in the church- 

 yard to the east of the chancel was formerly in the old 

 church, between the chancel and north chapel.'-" 



The advowson of the church of 

 .■IDI'OII'SOX Stoke Doyle has been always held by 

 the lords of the first manor of 

 Stoke Doyle, the earliest recorded presentation being 

 in 1222, by Robert de Stoke."* Mr. Capron is the 

 owner of the advowson at the present day. 



A rent of los. a year from the rectory of Stoke 

 Doyle was paid to the Sacrist of the Abbey of Peter- 

 borough in 1291." All portions, tithes and pensions 

 in the parish were granted in 1541 to the dean and 

 chapter of the newly founded cathedral.** 



At the Dissolution of the chantries, a sum of 

 53J. •^d. existed to maintain an obit and light in the 

 church as well as an annual rent of 2/.'* 



In 1591 a dispute arose as to a messuage and 20 acres 

 of land lield for the benefit of the parish for repairing 

 bridges, the relief of the poor, etc. The deeds were 

 in the possession of Anthony Palmer, the lord of the 

 manor, and two others, who, it is alleged, tried to 

 conceal the property, pretending that it had been 

 given for superstitious uses.'"** 



Thomas Hewitt in 1749 left ^^20 for 

 CHARITIES the poor. This sum was subsequently 

 invested in £20 8j. ()d. Consols pro- 

 ducing 10/. yearly in dividends. The income is 

 distributed by the rector and churchwardens in 

 bread on St. Thomas's Day to about 20 recipients. 



George Capron by indenture dated 24 June 1844 

 gave /^20O to the rector and churchwardens for 

 charitable purposes. The money was invested in 

 /^2I5 10/. loii. Consols producing £^ ys. Sd. in divi- 

 dends. £2 is distributed to the local Clothing and 

 Coal Clubs, £2 in aid of the Sunday School and ^l 

 to Peterborough Infirmary. 



The sums of Stock are with the Official Trustees of 

 Charitable Funds. 



THORPE ACHURCH 



Asechurch (xi cent.), Torpe and Achirche (xii cent.), 

 Thorp, Asechirche (xiii cent.), Thorp Watervill, 

 Acherche (xiv cent.). 



The parish of Thorpe Achurch lies about 5 miles 

 south of Oundle and covers i ,608 J acres, most of which 

 arc laid down in grass. The land rises gradually 

 from the River Nene which forms the western boun- 

 dary of the parish and is for the most part about 

 100 ft. above the ordnance datum, although it reaches 



157 ft. near the church of Achurch. Along the valley 

 of the river the soil is alluvium and the subsoil is 

 formed of the great 1 olite scries, red marl and Oxford 

 clay. 



The village of Achurch is in the northern part of 

 the parish and lies a little to the west of the mrin 

 road from Wellingborough and Thrapston to Oundle. 

 It consists of a farm and 16 cottages, the church of 

 St. John and the rectory, which is a picturesque 



" YorkcMS.(printed),whcrf the inscrip- 

 tion 18 given, p. 30. The name of Rysbrack 

 (loei not occur on the monument. 

 , •* They were recastings of five oIH bells, 

 two of which were cracked. They were 

 liung in the tower in new frames in the 

 lummer of 1728, and about the same time 

 a new clock wns provided. The inscrip- 

 tioni arc given in North, Cb. Bells oj 

 ynrlkantSy 408. 



•' In in inventory of 171 1 arc recorded 

 a silver gilt cup and cover given in 170S, 

 a small silver cup, a silver dish for bread, 

 and two pewter flagons dated 1647. The 

 whole of this was exchanged in 1734 for 

 the present set. Markham, Cb. Pluie of 

 Noribanis, 271. 



"Notes to Yorke's MS. 1884. A few 

 extracts, mostly relating to the lords of 

 the manor cr to the rectors, are given, 

 pp. 26-27. 



" .Markham, Crosses of Northants, 107. 

 The socket is let diagonally, and the lower 

 part of the shaft is still in the hole. 



•' llist. of Noribanis. ii, 378. Ashton 

 was rector 1390-1435. 



" I'hc elTigy is 1 1 ft. east of the chancel, 

 slightly to the north. It is probably in 

 its original position, though now out- 

 side. 



" Roi. Hug. de H'elUs (Cant, and York 

 Soc), ii, eo8, 140; Roi. Ric. Cravtsend 

 (Cant, and York Soc), 126 ; Dc Banco R. 

 42, m. Szd ; Feet of F. Northants. 



Mil. 6 Kdw. II; Mich. 14 Edw. Ill; 

 Mich. 26 Edw. Ill ; Div. Cos. Trin. 

 44 Edw. Ill ; Northants. Trin. 18 Hen. 

 VlII ; East. 5 Eli?.. ; Recov. R. Trin. 

 Phil, and Mary, ro. 546 ; ibid. 9 Will. Ill, 

 ro. 185; Insiit. Bks. P.R.O. In 1823 

 a recovery suggests that Sir James 

 I.angham, Bart, owned the advowson, 

 but presumably he only held land or 

 tithes in the parish (Recov. R, Mich. 

 4 Geo. IV, ro. 285). 



•' Pope Nub. Tax (Rec. Com.), 39b ; 

 Cott. MS. Vesp. E xxii, f. bod. 



•• /.. and r. Hen. VI II, vol. xvi, g. 1216 

 (10). 



•• Chantry Certif. (P.R.O.), 35. 



'" Ct. of Req. bdle. 98, no. 25. 



