A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



table and consists of a series of pierced quatrefoils. 

 From the pinnacles pierced flying buttresses are 

 carried to the spire, the angles of which are ribbed 

 and crocketed. There are three sets of gabled spire 

 lights on the cardinal faces, the bottom one tran- 

 somed and of two lights with 14th-century tracery: 

 on the east side is an ogee-headed doorway behind the 

 parapet. The whole of this work, in its present form, 

 dates from 1632, though the old wrought stones have 

 been re-used. 



The 13th-century tower arch to the nave is of four 

 chamfered orders springing from attached shafts on 

 each side with moulded capitals and bases, the larger 

 of the shafts having a fillet at the apex. Above the 

 arch is a shouldered opening, and the line of the 

 original high-pitched roof remains on the east side. 

 Between the tower arch and the north arcade, at 



HicirA>.r Ff.rkexs Church : Tun Font 



ground level, is a 13th-century wall arch on shafts 

 with moulded bases and capitals, in one of which tlie 

 nail-head ornament occurs.'" Tiie vice was originally 

 in the south-west angle of the tower, with communica- 

 tion over the west doorwav to another in the north- 

 west angle, but access to this is now obtained by a 

 modern stairway" with external doorway in the 

 angle of the north aisle. 



The fine early 15th-century rood screen has four 

 traceried openings on eacli side of the entrance, with 

 solid lower panels, battlemented cornice and moulded 

 stiles and rails. The modern cove, traceried loft 

 and the rood with attendant figures were designed 

 by Mr. J. N. Comper. There is no original rood-loft 

 stair or doorway. In the west bay of tlic chancel are 

 seven stalls on each side and three return stalls. 

 The return stalls and three on the south side have 



original traceried fronts, but the other fronts are 

 modern. There are also four original standards 

 with moulded and carved tops. All the stalls retain 

 their misericords, the centrepieces and supporters 

 of which are carved in a variety of subjects ; among 

 these are an angel holding a shield with the arms of 

 Archbishop Chicheley, a pelican, the heads of a king, 

 a bishop and others, a lion, pelican, phoenix-winged 

 serpent, foliage, etc. The arms of the see of Canter- 

 bury are on one of the supporters. 



Behind the north range of stalls a 15th-century 

 traceried screen of seven openings fills the arch to 

 the Lady chapel, but the enclosing screen at the west 

 end of the chapel is modern. There are also parclose 

 screens round the chapels at the east end of the outer 

 aisles: that to the north chapel is modern" at 

 the west end, but its south side is of 15th-century 

 date, with doorway and traceried openings, carved 

 cornice and solid lower panels. The south chapel 

 screen is rather later, with two tiers of panels 

 below the traceried openings, the bottom tier 

 having linen pattern ornament. Both these 

 screens have been restored to their places after 

 having been mutilated and converted into pews." 

 The pulpit and seating are modern. ^ The 15th- 

 century font has an octagonal bowl with carving 

 on tlie four major faces, on attached sliafts with 

 moulded bases, and chamfered plinth. 



In the tower window recess are four 13th- 

 century coffin lids. 



The monument on the north side of the chancel 



mentioned as probably having been erected by 



Henry Earl of Lancaster includes the battlemented 



arch already described as forming the canopy of 



the tomb, its end buttresses being taken up as 



pinnacles. The canopy preserves a considerable 



amount of its original colour,- but the tomb itself 



was altered in the 17th century, probably when 



Lawrence St. Maur's brass was placed there. 



Two of the four shields of arms' on each side 



may be reproductions in stone of the four brass 



shields now missing from the slab, and the 



pilasters between are clearly of the 17th century. 



The stone containing St. Maur's brass was no doubt 



originally in the chancel floor but was placed in its 



present position in 1633.* The brass is that of a 



priest in mass vestments below a canopy, but the 



border is imperfect : above the figure is our Lord 



and four Apostles, and the inscription below reads : 



' Hie jacet Lawren' de Sni ISLiuro quonda rector 



istius ecre cui' an' ppiciet' dns'.^ 



In the chancel, north of the altar, is the brass of 

 Richard W'ylleys (1523.O, warden of the college, in 

 cope, and soutli of the altar that of another ecclesiastic 

 the inscription of wliich is lost. There are several 

 brasses in the Lady chapel ; the oldest commemorates 

 Thomas Chicheley (d. 1400) and Agnes his wife, 

 parents of the Archbishop, on which is a floriated 

 Latin cross with the figure of our Lord in the centre 



•* There it a larger nail head in the ab.ici. 



•' The projecting itairway bccomei 

 octagonal above and ia carried up .ns a 

 turret, with a figure of Archbiihop 

 Chichclc on top. 



" It datci from 1923 and ii in mcrriorjr 

 of Cecil Crew, lomciime Native Com- 

 miiiioner in Southern Khodriia. It wai 

 deiigncd by .Mr. W. Talbot Brown. 



" Fry, op. cit. 12. 



' Freeman in 1S49 recorded th.it there 

 were ' a few remains of open scats in the 

 north aisle,' but with this exception the 

 church w.is pcwcd throughout. There 

 was a west gallery, which completely hid 

 the tower arch : Churchn of Archd. 

 Sorthftmpi. 17. 



' The beci have been .nlready noted. 



"The shields are (1) Engl.md, (2) Lan- 

 caster, (3) Two chcvronels and label of 

 three points, (4) chequy with a canton 

 chetjuy. 



* I-'ry, op. cit. 10. 



* This and the other brasses in the 

 church are figured and described in 

 Franklin Hudson's Mon, Braises 0/ 

 Northanls. 1853. 



276 



