A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



pointed door being well-developed 14th-century work. 

 The porch and west window of the south aisle are also 

 of this period, but the clerestory is a late- 15th-century 

 addition; it has four square-headed windows on each 

 side, and embattled parapets, with a sanctus bell-cote 

 set over the east gable. The chancel has a modern 

 high-pitched roof covered with CoUeyweston slates,' 

 but the nave and aisles are leaded, the latter having 

 straight parapets. The tower was repaired and but- 

 tresses added in 1861. 



The chancel, which is without buttresses, is built 

 of local ironstone faced internally with Bath stone. 

 The arch of the priest's doorway is of a single order 

 slightly chamfered and hood-mould over, and part of 

 the westernmost window on the south side is old, but 

 no other ancient features remain. The piscina, sedile, 

 and a trefoil-headed recess in the north wall are all 

 modern. The restored chancel arch is of two chamfered 

 orders on responds with moulded capitals; on the wall 

 above are the remains of a painted Doom, discovered in 

 1858. The arcades are of four bays, with pointed 

 arches of two chamfered orders on octagonal pillars 

 with moulded capitals and bases, and similar responds 

 much restored. At the east end of the south aisle is a 

 trefoil-headed piscina, and farther west a tall narrow 

 pointed recess, or cupboard, probably used as a locker 

 for banner staves, or for a processional cross. The 

 12th-century south doorway, moved to its present 

 position when the aisle was added, has a round arch 

 of two square orders on moulded imposts, the hood- 

 mould terminating in heads. 



The tower is of three stages with embattled parapet 

 and angle pinnacles. The upper or bell-chamber story 

 has an arcade of three pointed arches on each side, with 

 separate hood-moulds carried round the tower, and 

 shafts with moulded capitals and bases, but the outer 

 compartments alone are pierced. The middle stage 

 has a small pointed opening on the north and south 

 sides now hidden by the clock faces; the west side is 

 blank. In the lower stage is a narrow pointed doorway 

 on the south and a lancet window on the west, both 

 much restored. The tower arch is of two chamfered 

 orders. There is no vice. 



The font is of the unmounted type, octagonal in 

 shape and lined with lead. On all sides but the west it 

 is richly ornamented with circular medallions inclosing 

 roses, stars, and other devices, flanked with bands of 

 interlaced work.-' Having been long covered with 

 plaster the ornament is well preserved. The lower part 

 is cut back, or chamfered, and is plain. 



The pulpit and other fittings are modern, but there 

 is a 17th-century oak communion table in the north 

 aisle; a standing poor's box with three locks, cut 

 from a single piece of oak, may be of 16th-century 

 date. 



There is a ring of six bells cast in 1913 by J. Taylor 



& Co. of Loughborough from four old and one modern 

 bell.3 



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

 alms dish of 1685, the paten inscribed 'Mears Ashby, 

 1686', and a flagon of 1702 given by Mrs. Sarah 

 Kinloch, widow, in 17 10. There is also a brass 

 alms dish.'* 



The registers before 1 8 1 2 are as follows: (i) baptisms 

 and marriages 1670— 1744, burials 1672-77, and 

 1753-7, with all entries from Lady Day 1753 to Lady 

 Day 1754; (ii) baptisms 1754-83, burials 1754-94;' 

 (iii) marriages 1754-1812; (iv) baptisms and burials 

 1 794-1 8 1 2. 



The advowson of the church of 

 ADFOWSON Mears Ashby was granted to the abbey 

 of Aunay by Richard de Humez and 

 Agnes his wife before 1 1 59.* During the Hundred 

 Years War it fell into the king's hands' and he presented 

 between the years 1345 and 1383.* In 1392 Richard II 

 granted to the Prior of St. Anne of Coventry licence to 

 acquire this patronage from the Abbot of Aunay, 

 paying to the king 25 marks annually while the war 

 lasted.' The Prior of St. Anne's retained the advowson 

 until 1535. In 1562 Elizabeth granted it to John 

 Marshe.'" In 1625 died Justinian Bracegirdle in whose 

 will instructions were left to buy the advowson and 

 impropriation of Mears Ashby. The profits were to 

 be appropriated in portions of ^^lo per annum to 

 scholars ot the University of Oxford and were directed 

 by three trustees who alternately presented to the 

 living;" their successors are patrons at the present day. 



In 1291 the church was worth ^^5 6/. %d.^^ and in 



Church Estate. On the inclosure of 

 CHARITIES lands in this parish in 1744, 4 acres of 

 land were allotted to the minister and 

 churchwardens in lieu of other lands vested in feoffees 

 in trust for the general expenses of the church. The 

 land is let for £6 yearly. 



Poor's Land. Five acres of land was allotted upon 

 the inclosure to the minister and churchwardens for 

 the poor. This land islet and produces about j^7. The 

 income is applied in the distribution of bread and meat 

 on New Year's Day. 



Town Estate. Five cottages and gardens and several 

 pieces of land in the open fields were devised by the 

 Rev. Justinian Bracegirdle in 1625 for the repair of 

 bridges and causeways in Mears Ashby. 



On the inclosure of the open fields an allotment of 

 14 acres was awarded in lieu of the lands. The land 

 was sold in 1920 and the proceeds invested now pro- 

 duce about ;^28. 



Mrs. Sarah Kinloch, by wiO dated 16 June 1710, 

 gave ;^200 to be invested in lands, the proceeds to be 

 used for educating poor children of the parish. These 

 lands, in Arthingworth, now produce about ^£35 yearly. 



' The old chancel had a low-pitched 

 leaded roof: Bridges, Hisf. of Northants. 

 ii, 136. 



^ The ornament is very rich. Octagonal 

 unmounted fonts are not common in the 

 1 2th century: see Bond, Fonts and Font 

 Covers^ 40, where the Mears Ashby 

 example is figured. 



3 Of the four old bells the first was by 

 E. Arnold, of Leicester, 1793, the second 

 by Jas. Keene of Woodstock, 1621, the 

 third an undated alphabet bell by T. New- 



combe, of Leicester, and the tenor by 

 T. and J. Eayrc of Kettering, 1718. A 

 treble by Taylor was added in 1879. The 

 inscriptions on the old bells are given in 

 North, Ch. Bells of Northants. 335. 



■* Markham, Ch. Plate of Northants. 



17- 



s The baptisms were discontinued on 

 October i, 1783, on account of the stamp 

 duty, but there are copies, from memor- 

 anda, of baptisms and marriages 1783-94. 



Theduty was taken off on i October, 1794, 

 immediately after which the new register 

 of baptisms begins. 



' Round, Cal. Doc. France, 185. 

 ' Cal. Pat. 1343-5, p. 471. 

 8 Ibid. 1351-5, p. 311. 

 ■> Ibid. 1391-6, p. 242. 

 ■0 Pat. R. 3 Eliz. pt. i. 

 " Baker, Northants. i, 23. 

 '2 Pope Nich. Tax. (Rec. Com.), 39. 

 '■' Falor Eccles. (Rec. Com.), iv, 306. 



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