Church Ruins

SP 68 NW 4/64 11.1.55

KNAPTOFT Church Ruins

II

Remains of Church. Probably largely C13. Cobble and rubble stone construction. The ruins were consolidated in the earlier C20, and it seems likely that some re-construction was made at the time, throwing doubt on the authenticity of the surviving lay-out and location of specific details. However, possibly the original plan consisted of nave with north tower and chancel: the walls of this tower survive to a height of c6' and are very thick. There is an outer doorway with continuous moulding and the capitals of missing shafts survive. This opens onto a passage terminating with cylindrical clustered shafts. The length of wall running west of this incorporates 2 stumps of shafts, and 2 deeply moulded arches: these fragments may be re-sited however, since both features would appear to relate to doorways. There is also a stub of walling running north, further west than the tower. No west or east walls survive, and the south wall while it exists has been extensively consolidated. The church was reputedly destroyed by Cromwellian soldiers in the wake of the Battle of Naseby.

Listing NGR: SP6273589581