A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



evidence of a north aisle is wanting. The chancel was 

 rebuilt on its present lines in the 14th century, and a 

 north aisle was then added or rebuilt. The vestry, at 

 the east end of the north wall of the chancel, is coeval 

 with the chancel itself and was not rebuilt at the time 

 of the restoration. The tower and clerestory are addi- 

 tions of about 1400. The parapets of the chancel are 

 plain, but elsewhere they are battlemented, and the 

 roofs are of low pitch leaded. 



The east and south walls of the chancel are of grey 

 rubble about two-thirds of their height, above which, 

 like the north wall, they are faced with coursed iron- 

 stone. The east window is of five trefoiled lights with 



has an original moulded rood-loft beam and modern 

 oak vaulting carrying a vine pattern cornice. 



The 14th-century north arcade consists of four 

 pointed arches of two moulded orders springing from 

 pillars and responds composed of four rounded shafts 

 with hollows between, and with moulded capitals and 

 bases. The north aisle windows are all of three cinque- 

 foiled lights with four-centred heads, that at the west 

 end being partly renewed, and the doorway has a con- 

 tinuous moulding. At the east end of the aisle is a 

 mutilated 15th-century pillar piscina. The porch ap- 

 pears to be a 15th-century addition with flat-pitched 

 gable and pointed arch of two rounded orders. There 



10 5 O 



I31!J Cent, late 



□ M'B Century 



□ 151!! Cent early 



□ 181!! Cent. Rebuilding 



□ 191 Cent 



Plan of Great Harrowden Church 



reticulated tracery and has a moulded arch and shafted 

 jambs. In the south wall are three 14th-century ogee- 

 headed windows and two in the north wall, all of two 

 trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil above, and the window 

 of the vestry is of the same type. At the west end of the 

 south wall is a blocked low-side window with pointed 

 head breaking the string which runs round the chancel 

 externally at sill level. Between the windows on the 

 north side is a modern priest's doorway. The piscina 

 and triple sedilia are original and form a single composi- 

 tion of four moulded trefoliated arches on triple shafts 

 with moulded capitals and bases. The three seats are 

 on the same level, and the arches are set below the 

 moulded string which runs at sill level along the south 

 and north walls. The pointed doorway to the vestry, 

 or priest's chamber, has continuous moulded jambs and 

 head, with bases to the middle round member. The 

 14th-century chancel arch is of two hollow-chamfered 

 orders, the innermost on half-octagon responds with 

 moulded capitals. In the north respond, facing east, is 

 a narrow pointed recess, or niche, about 4 ft. 8 in. 

 above the floor. 



The oak rood screen remains, with wide middle 

 opening and three upper traceried panels on either side 

 and solid panels below. The screen is of late- 14th- 

 century date, a very good example of the period, and 



are four clerestory windows on each side, of two cinque- 

 foiled lights with quatrefoil in the head, those on the 

 south, since the removal of the aisle, being high above 

 the windows of the nave. 



The tower is of four stages with battlemented parapet 

 and angle pinnacles, and is faced with closely jointed 

 grey ashlar. On the west side is a pointed doorway and 

 a two-light window in the third stage, but on the north 

 and south the three lower stages are blank. The bell- 

 chamber windows are of two cinquefoiled lights with 

 a small quatrefoil in the head, and the arch to the nave 

 is of two chamfered orders. Above it is a blocked 

 round-headed opening. 



There are extensive remains of a painted Doom over 

 the chancel arch, and fragments of wall painting with 

 architectural and floral detail in the north aisle. 



In the chancel are the mutilated remains of the 

 splendid brass of William Harrowden, 1423, and Mar- 

 garet his wife, daughter of Sir Giles St. John. The figures 

 still remain in position, but the pilasters, canopy work, 

 two shields, part of the inscription, and the labels above 

 the figures have been removed. The man is in a com- 

 plete suit of plate armour, his feet resting on a dog, and 

 the lady wears a hooded veiled head-dress and cloak, or 

 mantle open in front.' 



In the north aisle is a grave-slab inscribed round the 



' Hudson, Alont, Brasses of Northants, 

 The inscription now reads '. . . obiit 

 decimo die mensis . . . cccc vicesimo tertio 

 et dna Margareta uxor ejus filia et heres 



Egidii Seynt John militis qui obiit . . . die 

 mensis . . . ano dnl millimocccc . . . quor3 

 animabus propicietur deus Amen. Provi- 



184 



deant cuncti sic transit gloria mundi.' 

 The man's figure is 3 ft. 7 in. long and 

 the woman's 3 ft. 4^ in. 



