Warkworth, Northamptonshire

From Wikishire
Jump to: navigation, search
Warkworth
Northamptonshire
Warkworth Church - geograph.org.uk - 116273.jpg
St Mary the Virgin parish church
Location
Grid reference: SP487404
Location: 52°3’35"N, 1°17’22"W
Data
Population: 31  (2001)
Post town: Banbury
Postcode: OX17
Dialling code: 01295
Local Government
Council: West Northamptonshire
Parliamentary
constituency:
South Northamptonshire

Warkworth is a village in Northamptonshire, about two miles east of Banbury (on the border of Oxfordshire) and a mile south-east of junction 11 of the M40 motorway.

The 2001 census recorded the parish's population as 31.

History

Warkworth Castle was held by the Lyons family in the 14th century and had passed to the Chetwode family by 1412. It had semicircular towers and a large gatehouse. In 1629 it passed to the Holman family, who had it converted into a Jacobean mansion. It was demolished in 1805.[1]

An open-field system of farming prevailed in Warkworth until the 18th century. Its land tenure was linked with that of Overthorpe, which at that time was part of Middleton Cheney parish, until an Inclosure Act for Overthorpe and Warkworth in 1764.[2]

Church

The parish church of St Mary is 14th-century Decorated Gothic. It was partly rebuilt in 1840–41 and 1869, and on the latter occasion under the direction of Charles Driver. The three-bay north arcade, the arch and east window of the south transept, and the windows in the south aisle are 14th-century. The south arcade, north aisle windows, chancel and top of the west tower are 19th-century Gothic Revival.[1] The south aisle has a squint to the chancel.[3]

Inside the church are several monuments. The north aisle has two tomb recesses, and an ornate mid-14th-century chest tomb built of clunch and bearing the effigy of a recumbent knight. There are five 15th-century monumental brasses: to Sir John Chetwode (died 1412), a second John Chetwode (died 1420), Margaret Brounyng (died 1420), Lady Chetwode (died 1430) and William Ludsthorp (died 1454).There is also an 18th-century monument to William Holman (died 1740).[1]

The church is Grade-II* listed.[3]

Amenities

The Jurassic Way, a long distance footpath, passes through Warkworth village.

References

Commons-logo.svg
("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Warkworth, Northamptonshire)
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Pevsner & Cherry 1973, p. 444.
  2. RCHME 1982, pp. 101–102.
  3. 3.0 3.1 National Heritage List 1226297: Church of St Mary

Sources