Information for record number MWA736:
Church of St Lawrence, Napton on the Hill

Summary The Church of St Lawrence was originally built during the Medieval period. It was largely restored during the Post Medieval period and the tower added during the Imperial period. The Church is situated 100m north of The Butts, Napton on the Hill.
What Is It?  
Type: Church
Period: Medieval - Industrial (1066 AD - 1900 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Napton on the Hill
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 46 61
(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: II*)
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 12th century church probably consisted of chancel, nave, N and S transepts, nave and W tower. It was rebuilt 13th century, when the aisles were added, and at a later date, probably 17th century, a vestry and porch were built. The tower has been completely rebuilt in recent times. There was a priest at Napton in 1086.
4 Photographed in 1979.
5 A multi-service trench was laid along the pathway route in 1998. Archaeological observations showed no archaeological features. Locals claim that the graveyard was bulldozed in the 1950s to make room for new burials.
6 The vestry was erected shortly before 1844 with a reused 14th century window in its north side. The vestry's window is similar to two of the windows on the south ailse either side of the south porch. The window must have come from elsewhere in the church possibly from the north ailse, before the projecting window was inserted. The evaluation trenches did not recover any structural remains associated with any earlier parts of the church. They did however, reveal a number of undated burials. The medieval pottery found within the trenches is likely to derive from the surrounding medieval settlement.
7 81 skeletons, in addition to a large number of disarticulated remains, were discovered on the northern side of the church, part of the site lying underneath the 19th century vestry that was previously demolished. Possible dates for the burials vary from between the 12th century to the mid-19th century, yet all were aligned with the church so are not likely to pre-date it. Additionally a ditch was sealed beneath the remains containing Roman pottery, indicating at least a medieval date if not earlier. medieval pottery was also uncovered in the graveyard soil but most likely to be residual.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 6, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1951
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: VI
   
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: Descriptive Text
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1987
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Stratford
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Archaeological Evaluation at St. Lawrence's Church, Napton-on-the-Hill
Author/originator: Coutts, C. & Gethin, B.
Date: 2004
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 0444
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: St Lawrence's Church, Napton-on-the-Hill, Warwickshire: An archaeological recording action
Author/originator: Platt D
Date: 2012
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: NCN12/33
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: SMR card: photograph
Author/originator:
Date: 2005
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Salvage Recording/Watching Brief Record
Author/originator: Palmer, S
Date: 1998
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
St Lawrence's Church, Napton on the Hill
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1979
Click here for larger image  
 
St. Lawrence's Church, Napton on the Hill
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1900s
Click here for larger image  
 
The Church of St. Lawrence, Napton on the Hill
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1950s
Click here for larger image  
 
back to top

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.
 		back
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 SMR Card Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
period Roman About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)

The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.

The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
more -> 		back
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.
more -> 		back
period Post Medieval About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)

The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.

This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836).
more -> 		back
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.
more -> 		back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURE * Use only for features assumed to be archaeological but which cannot be identified more precisely without further investigation .Use more specific term where known back
monument SETTLEMENT * A small concentration of dwellings. 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 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 INDUSTRIAL * This is the top term for the class. See INDUSTRIAL Class List for narrow terms. back
monument VESTRY * A room or part of a church where the vestments, vessels and records are kept. back
monument BUTTS * A mound or structure on which an archery, musketry or artillery target is erected. Use specific type where known. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument DITCH * A long and narrow hollow or trench dug in the ground, often used to carry water though it may be dry for much of the year. back
monument BURIAL * An interment of human or animal remains. Use specific type where known. If component use with wider site type. Use FUNERARY SITE for optimum retrieval in searches. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record