Information for record number MWA1573:
Church of St John the Baptist, Church Lane, Aston Cantlow

Summary The Church of St John the Baptist which was originally built during the Medieval period. It was later restored during the Imperial period. The Church is located in Church Lane, Aston Cantlow.
What Is It?  
Type: Church, Chancel, Nave, Tower, Aisle, Porch, Niche, Sedilia, Piscina
Period: Modern - Modern (1260 AD - 2050 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Aston Cantlow
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 13 59
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Listed Building (Grade: I)
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Chancel, North chapel, nave, North aisle, South porch, and West tower. Chancel, nave and tower date from late in the 13th century. The nave had a narrow North aisle with the existing arcade of four bays. About the end of the 14th century the North chapel was added, with the arcade of two bays, and the nave aisle was widened to the same span, and probably the arcade rebuilt with much of the original material. The aisle was provided with a Northwest stair-turret, which may perhaps have been intended to carry a beacon; it originally rose above the aisle roof but was reduced in the 19th century. Bell-chamber of tower added late in the 14th century. In the restoration of 1850 the nave South wall had to be entirely rebuilt, with the chancel arch. Font probably 15th century. A certain amount of old woodwork exists. Domesday records a priest at Aston.
7 The rafters in the roof of the chancel showed evidence of re-use, having been turned 90 degrees and then placed in their present position. Dendrochronological dating of these timbers indicated two stages of felling in the 13th century, so there is no evidence to suggest if the rafters were from a previous roof of this church or from another building. The basic structure of the present roof was confirmed as having a 15th century date, contrary to the information in Victoria County History (VCH). On review of documentary evidence it is now also believed that the roof pitch is likely to have been lowered later in the 19th century than first recorded by VCH. The ceiling of the chancel was taken out during restoration of the church in 1849 when the present decoration of gold stars on a blue background was put in.
8 church. Chancel, nave and tower late 13th century; north aisle and chapel, and upper stage of tower late 14th century; porch and restoration 1850 by William Butterfield. Chancel, nave and tower of coursed limestone and lias rubble; aisle and chapel of regular coursed lias; porch of rubble, limestone ashlar and timber. Nave and chancel have tile roofs, aisle and chapel have lead. Chancel, nave, north aisle and north chapel, west tower and south porch. Early English and Decorated. Three-bay chancel, four-bay nave. Chancel has angle buttresses. East and north walls have moulded string courses. Three-light Decorated east window with renewed tracery; bottom section stone-panelled. Three two-light south windows with differing cusped enriched Y-tracery. arched doorway between second and third windows has two hollow chamfers and studded door with strap hinges. Two-light Early English north window with bar tracery. Hood moulds throughout. Coped gable with mid 19th century foliated cross. Nave has arched south door and doorway of 1850. Porch has timber arch. South windows renewed. Two three-light Decorated style windows with Reticulated tracery and straight heads. Single trefoiled lancet with hood mould. North aisle and north chapel in one. Buttresses and diagonal east buttress. East and north walls have moulded plinths. String course and coped parapet with string course. Double-leaf north door with chamfered arch and hood mould. Niche above has renewed ogee head and remains of medieval carving of the Nativity, with recumbent Virgin (VCH). Three-light Decorated east window with five radiating lobes, hood mould and head stops; said to come from a medieval chapel at Wilmcote (VCH). Two two-light Decorated north windows with ogee lights and hood moulds; easternmost (chapel) window has head stops. Similar west window without hood mould. Hexagonal north-west stair turret, possibly for a beacon; lowered late 19th century. Slit window and round window with three mouchettes high up in north east re-entrant angle. tower in two stages with chamfered plinth, irregular quoins and string course. Diagonal west buttresses with two offsets. Early English lower stage has west lancet and small lancet above. Higher up are north, south and west lancets. Upper stage has paired two-light openings with ogee lights, quatrefoils and hood moulds. Crenellated parapet with string course and pinnacles. Interior: Chancel has low-pitched elliptical arch-braced 15th or 16th century roof with moulded purlins and central rib, and brattished wall plates. The easternmost bay is panelled, forming wagon roof painted and decorated with stars, and cutting across the top of th east window. Three 13th century sedilia and piscina with hollow-moulded arches, hood mould and head stops. Early English style chancel arch of 1850 has clustered shafts with stiff leaf capitals. Low stone screen walls by Butterfield have coped top and pierced quatrefoils, and Gothic iron gates. Nave has scissor braced roof with collars, probably of 1850. West organ gallery 1850. Triple-chamfered tower arch on moulded corbels. Late 13th century two-bay chapel and four-bay nave arcades have simple arches of two chamfered orders, octagonal piers, and moulded capitals and bases. Nave has responds with moulded corbels, the easternmost 19th century. North aisle and chapel have very low-pitched roof with moulded tie beans. North-west door to stair turret, with sexfoil circular opening high above Fittings: Reredos with tracery panels (buildings of England); dismantled at time of resurvey. Two chairs in chancel made from 15th century stalls. 15th century hexagonal oak pulpit with foiled and crocketed ogee panels, moulded rails and buttresses with finials. 15th century octagonal stone Font in north aisle has quatrefoil to each face, and stem and buttresses with bearded heads. 17th century Font stem: wood column with gadrooned top. 15th century bench, cut in two, in north aisle has moulded rails and poppy heads. Mid 19th century pews and Gothic altar rails. Stained glass: 14th century fragments in north aisle north-east window. Nave lancet has good glass of circa 1852. Late 19th century east and chapel east windows by Charles Kempe. Lead panel, nave west wall: dated 1757 with names of church wardens; removed from chapel roof 1969. The chapel was associated with the Guild dedicated to St. Mary. Listed Grade I for considerable survival of medieval fabric with many medieval windows, unusual stair turret and medieval chancel roof, and as an example oi the restoration by William Butterfield.
 
Sources
Source No: 4
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1985
Page Number: 67
Volume/Sheet: Stratford-on-Avon We
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: The Buildings of England: Warwickshire
Author/originator: Pevsner N and Wedgwood A
Date: 1966
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Warwicks
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 3, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1945
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 3
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 3, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1945
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 3
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Statuatory List
Title: National Heritage List for England
Author/originator: Historic England
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Archaeological observation and recording of repairs to the chancel at the church of St John the Baptist, Aston Cantlow, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Greig I & Rann C
Date: 2010
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 1026
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: St John the Baptist Church, Aston Cantlow
Author/originator: Warwick Museum
Date: 2007
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: OS Card, 15SE2
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1968
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 15SE2
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
designation Listed Building Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a statutory list. These buildings are protected by planning and conservation acts that ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them.

Depending on how important the buildings are they are classed as Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II. Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest. Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Those listed as Grade II are those buildings that are regarded of special interest.
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source LBL Listed Building List. Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a list. Buildings placed on the list are protected through various planning and conservation acts which ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them. The Listed Buildings List is compiled and maintained by English Heritage. It includes details of where the building is, when it was built, a description of its appearance, and any other special features. back
source OS Card Ordnance Survey Record Card. Before the 1970s the Ordnance Survey (OS) were responsible for recording archaeological monuments during mapping exercises. This helped the Ordnance Survey to decide which monuments to publish on maps. During these exercises the details of the monuments were written down on record cards. Copies of some of the cards are kept at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. The responsibility for recording archaeological monuments later passed to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments. back
source VCH The Victoria County History of the Counties of England. This publication covers the history of each county in England. For Warwickshire, seven volumes were published between 1904 and 1964. They comprise a comprehensive account of the history of each town and village in the county, and important families connected to local history. Each volume is organised by 'hundred', an Anglo-Saxon unit of land division. The Victoria County History also contains general chapters about Warwickshire's prehistory, ecclesiastical and economic history. A copy of each volume is held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique Documentary Evidence Documentary evidence is another name for written records. The first written records in Britain date back to the Roman period. Documentary evidence can take many different forms, including maps, charters, letters and written accounts. When archaeologists are researching a site, they often start by looking at documentary evidence to see if there are clues that will help them understand what they might find. Documentary evidence can help archaeologists understand sites that are discovered during an excavation, field survey or aerial survey. back
period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
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period Imperial 1751 AD to 1914 AD (end of the 18th century AD to the beginning of the 20th century AD)

This period comes after the Post Medieval period and before the modern period and starts with beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1750. It includes the second part of the Hannoverian period (1714 – 1836) and the Victorian period (1837 – 1901). The Imperial period ends with the start of the First World War in 1914.
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period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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monument SHAFT * Use only if function unknown, otherwise use specific type. back
monument PULPIT * Use as an external architectural feature only. back
monument BENCH * A long seat, usually made of stone or wood, with or without a back. back
monument HOLLOW * A hollow, concave formation or place, which has sometimes been dug out. back
monument BEACON * A site or structure on which a signal, especially a fire, could be placed as a warning or means of communication. Use for beacon sites or surviving beacon structures. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument ARCH * A structure over an opening usually formed of wedge-shaped blocks of brick or stone held together by mutual pressure and supported at the sides; they can also be formed from moulded concrete/ cast metal. A component; use for free-standing structure only. back
monument TURRET * A small tower or bartizan, which was often placed at the angles of a castle, to increase the flanking ability, some only serving as corner buttresses. Also used to describe the small rectangular towers situated between the milecastles along Hadrians Wall. back
monument TOWER * A tall building, either round, square or polygonal in plan, used for a variety of purposes, including defence, as a landmark, for the hanging of bells, industrial functions, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument PIER * A structure of iron or wood, open below, running out into the sea and used as a promenade and landing stage. back
monument PISCINA * A perforated stone basin usually built into the wall of a church on the south side of the altar. Used for carrying away the ablutions (wine and water used to rinse the chalice, and wash the priests hands after communion). back
monument CARVING * A carved figure or design. back
monument WOOD * A tract of land with trees, sometimes acting as a boundary or barrier, usually smaller and less wild than a forest. back
monument FONT * A vessel, usually made of stone, which contains the consecrated water for baptism. Use a broader monument type if possible. back
monument CHAPEL * A freestanding building, or a room or recess serving as a place of Christian worship in a church or other building. Use more specific type where known. back
monument COLUMN * Use for free standing column. back
monument ALTAR * An elevated table or podium on which to place or sacrifice offerings to the deities. back
monument PINNACLE * A vertical, pointed structure usually resembling a pyramid or cone. Use for component of a larger building type where it is now used as a freestanding ornament. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument ROUND * A small, Iron Age/Romano-British enclosed settlement found in South West England. back
monument CROSS * A free-standing structure, in the form of a cross (+), symbolizing the structure on which Jesus Christ was crucified and sacred to the Christian faith. Use specific type where known. back
monument GATE * A movable stucture which enables or prevents entrance to be gained. Usually situated in a wall or similar barrier and supported by gate posts. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record