Newbottle-cum-Charlton

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
ENGLAND


Introduction

Genealogy information

Parish church

Village photos

Email OntaWorld

Home


St James' tower and, probably, the font, is all that remain from the pre-1200 building. From its size and rubble stone construction it was clearly part of a not very grand church. Some time between 1147 and 1167 William de Pinu, Lord of the Manor, and possibly the builder of this first church, assigned it to the Priory of Dunstable in Bedfordshire which, from then on, as corporate rectory of the church, appointed vicars to serve it on their behalf. Within about 100 years all except the tower was demolished and rebuilt on a larger scale, to the same dimensions seen here in this photo.

The churchyard has been closed for burials since the early 1900s, and a new burial ground at Charlton was given in 1903 by T.L.M. Cartwright of Newbottle Manor. It is connected to the church by a tarmac path, so that a bier can be wheeled directly from church to graveside. It is also the direct route to church for pedestrians from Charlton.

The churchyard grass, which in early spring is a mass of first, snowdrops and then daffodils, is kept short by being grazed by sheep, and the part behind the church is mowed once a year as a nature reserve.

On the porch there is a sundial dated 1764. It was restored and accurately aligned in 1975 as a memorial to Mary Harper of Charlton.


Parish church    Parish church

Parish church    Parish church

Parish church