Northleach, SS Peter & Paul
William and Agnes Midwinter 1501. William Midwinter had a well documented career as a wool merchant. He traded with the Cely company who were merchants of the staple of Calais. The Cely's came to Northleach regularly for business meetings with William, and letters between the two parties still exist. William and Agnes are both shown with a foot each on a sheep and a wool sack, suggesting that she was also a merchant.
There has been a church at Northleach from at least the 13thc. The chancel is the earliest part of the present building, dating from the first part of the 14thc. although it has been extensively remodelled. The tower was built c.1380-1400 and is 100ft high.
The 15thc. brought great wealth to Northleach, the wool produced here was highly prized by cloth merchants throughout Europe. Local middlemen grew rich as a result, and money was lavished on the church. The brass memorials to these men still adorn the floors of the nave and chancel. The nave was built in the mid to late 15thc. funded mostly by the merchant John Fortey, whose brass is near the pulpit.
The magnificent porch is of c.1500. It is two stories high and decorated with pinnacles, battlements and original statues.
The town and church fell into disrepair during the 18thc. coinciding with the local decline of the wool/cloth trade. The Victorian restoration took place in 1884.
Today Northleach is again a prosperous Cotswold town just off of the busy A40, and the church remains a monument to the medieval wool trade.
Northleach, SS Peter & Paul
William and Agnes Midwinter 1501. William Midwinter had a well documented career as a wool merchant. He traded with the Cely company who were merchants of the staple of Calais. The Cely's came to Northleach regularly for business meetings with William, and letters between the two parties still exist. William and Agnes are both shown with a foot each on a sheep and a wool sack, suggesting that she was also a merchant.
There has been a church at Northleach from at least the 13thc. The chancel is the earliest part of the present building, dating from the first part of the 14thc. although it has been extensively remodelled. The tower was built c.1380-1400 and is 100ft high.
The 15thc. brought great wealth to Northleach, the wool produced here was highly prized by cloth merchants throughout Europe. Local middlemen grew rich as a result, and money was lavished on the church. The brass memorials to these men still adorn the floors of the nave and chancel. The nave was built in the mid to late 15thc. funded mostly by the merchant John Fortey, whose brass is near the pulpit.
The magnificent porch is of c.1500. It is two stories high and decorated with pinnacles, battlements and original statues.
The town and church fell into disrepair during the 18thc. coinciding with the local decline of the wool/cloth trade. The Victorian restoration took place in 1884.
Today Northleach is again a prosperous Cotswold town just off of the busy A40, and the church remains a monument to the medieval wool trade.