Church Of St Leonard

SP45SE, 2/3

ASTON-LE-WALLS, MAIN STREET (North side), Church of St. Leonard

04/02/69

I

Church. C12/C13, and early C14. Restored c.1870 and 1881-2 by J. M. Townsend. Coursed squared ironstone and coursed rubble, lead and slate roofs. Chancel, nave and aisles south porch, west tower and west porch. Chancel has C14 priest's door to north and early C14 windows with cusped Y tracery (mostly renewed C19). two early C13 windows right of porch in south aisle. Window to left, 2 lights with plate tracery, window to right, pair of lancets. C19 window left of porch. C14 west window ha 2 ogee-headed lights under square hood and ogee-headed recess below. C14 south porch, restored C19. C13 inner doorway has arch with roll mouldings, jamb shafts with bell capitals and a ribbed plank door North doorway (blocked) c.1200 has pointed arch of 2 unchamfered orders. Jambs have scallop capital to east and capital with stylised leaves to west. Shafts missing. Two early C13 two-light windows to left. West tower C12/C13. Three stages, plain parapet; C12 round-headed lancet south side ground stage C13 bell openings of 2 lights with plate tracery (renewed C19). Gabled C14 porch. Inner doorway c.1200 has pointed arch of 3 unchamfered orders, chamfered jambs and simple moulded band in place of capitals.

INTERIOR: C13 double piscina and sedilia in chancel. C13 nave arcades, 3 bays with circular and octagonal piers and double chamfered arches. Perpendicular nave roof. Romanesque font, square carved with intersecting blind arcading on south side, knot pattern to east, tree of life to west and chequer pattern to north. C14 stone effigy of a priest in recess in chancel with cusped arch flanked by finial thought to be monument to John de Ardele, who was presented as priest to this church in 1348 (V.C.H.). Monument to Elizabeth Orme, died 1692, wall tablet, north aisle, white marble with black Ionic half columns surmounted by crest and small portrait bust. Bench ends have re-used medieval tracery and small buttresses.

(Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.95; V.C.H.: Northamptonshire, Vol.I, p.405).

Listing NGR: SP4955550808