All Saints, Norton
Norton lies a short distance to the east of Daventry and its fine church dedicated to All Saints has much of interest to reward the visitor. It is a mainly 14th century building with a west tower and nave flanked by aisles, though the short chancel beyond is much later rebuilding. The material throughout is the deep brown ironstone which takes on the colouring of baked bread in sunshine, though sadly the lighting was much more subdued on this visit (unlike my previous two years before).
Within the church is surprisingly spacious and light, owing to the rendering of the walls and the large windows glazed by Thomas Willement in the 1840s, largely with armorial glass and small figures of saints (only the east window is fully coloured and pictorial). The outstanding features here are the series of monuments to members of the Knightly family from the beginning of the 17th to 19th centuries, the most impressive being that to Lady Elizabeth Seymour in the south aisle which is a very fine example of a richly canopied Elizabethan tomb. Later monuments fill the chancel including several tablets, while a further 17th century memorial adorns the end of the north aisle. The west end of the nave is dominated by the organ in its gallery, behind which are the Ten Commandments from the former 18th century reredos.
Norton church is normally kept open and welcoming to visitors in normal daylight hours. I nearly ran out of luck here when I arrived as I found it locked despite a 'church open' sign, but happily a nice lady with the key arrived soon afterwards to unlock, apologising for having been delayed that particular morning. It's a church well worth visiting in an area with several particularly rewarding examples.
www.northamptonshiresurprise.com/organisation/all-saints-...
All Saints, Norton
Norton lies a short distance to the east of Daventry and its fine church dedicated to All Saints has much of interest to reward the visitor. It is a mainly 14th century building with a west tower and nave flanked by aisles, though the short chancel beyond is much later rebuilding. The material throughout is the deep brown ironstone which takes on the colouring of baked bread in sunshine, though sadly the lighting was much more subdued on this visit (unlike my previous two years before).
Within the church is surprisingly spacious and light, owing to the rendering of the walls and the large windows glazed by Thomas Willement in the 1840s, largely with armorial glass and small figures of saints (only the east window is fully coloured and pictorial). The outstanding features here are the series of monuments to members of the Knightly family from the beginning of the 17th to 19th centuries, the most impressive being that to Lady Elizabeth Seymour in the south aisle which is a very fine example of a richly canopied Elizabethan tomb. Later monuments fill the chancel including several tablets, while a further 17th century memorial adorns the end of the north aisle. The west end of the nave is dominated by the organ in its gallery, behind which are the Ten Commandments from the former 18th century reredos.
Norton church is normally kept open and welcoming to visitors in normal daylight hours. I nearly ran out of luck here when I arrived as I found it locked despite a 'church open' sign, but happily a nice lady with the key arrived soon afterwards to unlock, apologising for having been delayed that particular morning. It's a church well worth visiting in an area with several particularly rewarding examples.
www.northamptonshiresurprise.com/organisation/all-saints-...