St Leonard's Church, Apethorpe
History
The church at Apethorpe dates mostly from the 14th or 15th century, although there may have been an earlier structure on the site. A chapel and tower were added in the 17th century and the tower was restored in the 19th century. The church was designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage on 23 May 1967. The Grade I listing is for buildings "of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important".
Architecture
Exterior
The church is constructed of coursed limestone with ashlar dressings; the roofs are lead. Its plan consists of a nave with north and south aisles, chancel, a west tower, a chapel to the south and a south porch. The tower is of three stages, without buttresses. It has a battlemented parapet and is topped with an octagonal spire.
The north and south aisles, are both of three bays; both the aisles and the south chapel are supported by two-stage buttresses between each window.
Interior and fittings
The nave has a three-bay arcade with double-chamfered arches. There is an arch to the tower, which is chamfered and moulded. The chancel contains a carved corbel and the pulpit and baptismal font, which date from the 18th century.
The south chapel contains a large marble monument to Sir Anthony Mildmay (d. 1617) and his wife Lady Grace Mildmay (d. 1620), an effigy to Sir Richard Dalton (d. 1442) and a 19th-century marble monument to John Arthur Fane, the infant son of Lord Burghersh.
Churchyard
The churchyard contains a c. 14th century limestone ashlar cross and an 18th-century limestone ashlar chest tomb, both of which have been given a Grade II listing by English Heritage.
References
Footnotes
- ^ Historic England, "Church Of St Leonard (1371995)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 29 April 2011
- ^ "Parish of Apethorpe", Oundle Deanery, retrieved 16 February 2011
- ^ Listed Buildings, English Heritage, 2010, retrieved 22 August 2011
- ^ Lewis, pp. 62–66
- ^ Historic England, "Churchyard Cross Approximately 7 Metres South East Of South Porch Of Church Of St Leonard (1191520)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 29 April 2011
- ^ Historic England, "Chest Tomb Approximately 10 Metres South Of South Porch Of Church Of St Leonard (1040092)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 29 April 2011
Sources
- Lewis, Samuel, ed. (1848), "Anthony, St — Appledram", A Topographical Dictionary of England, retrieved 15 February 2011
Further reading
- Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget (1973) [1961], The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, Penguin, ISBN 0-14-071022-1