Information for record number MWA4243:
Church of St Editha, Monks Kirby

Summary The Church of St Editha, originally built in the Medieval period. It was largely rebuilt during the 14th century. The Church is situated 175m west of the Post Office, Monks Kirby.
What Is It?  
Type: Church, Building
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Monks Kirby
District: Rugby, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 46 83
(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
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Chancel, nave, N and S aisles and chapels, S porch with parvise, vestry, and SW tower. Rebuilt in the later 14th century and again towards the end of the 15th century, when the present arcades were built, the upper part of the tower rebuilt, and most of the windows replaced. The priory buildings were on the N side of the chancel; parts of them were embodied in the church during the 15th century reconstruction to form the chapel. church re-roofed about the end of the 16th century. N aisle partly rebuilt in the 19th century and a vestry added. The exceptionally large tower lost its octagonal spire in 1722. 16th century monuments. Kirkby, the original form of the name of the parish, implies the early existence of a church here. At the Norman Conquest Geoffrey de Wirce found the church in ruin and gave it to the Abbey of St Nicholas, Angers.
2 Plan of the church.
3 Photograph of the tomb of Basil Feilding and his wife.
6 After the Black Death, the church became a place of pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady, and in 1360 the monks and the people petitioned Pope Innocent VI, claiming that 'Christ has wrought many miracles in honour of his Mother in the church of the said priory, which is old and in danger of Ruin'. The Indulgence was granted and clearly generously supported by the people, for the church was rebuilt very much in the size and style we see today. The church consists of Chancel, Nave, North and South Aisles, with a pavise, vestry and tower, built into the North West Corner. Originally rich red sandstone, parts of the fabric have from time to time been refaced with white ashlar. With various monuments to the Feilding family, the two earliest being table tombs in the North chapel. In the South chapel, known as the Skipwith chapel, is the tomb of the last Sir Thomas Skipwith and his wife Selina Shirley with, above, his Arms impaling hers. A mutilated head built into the North wall is claimed to be that of Geoffrey de la Guerche, the founder.
7 Plan of the church.
8 In 1977 a small trench was put down alongside the NE angle of the N chapel, which found a blocked doorway flanked by cylindrical columns bearing traces of chevron ornament - this was/is the only apparent 12th century work in the church, but whether this is in situ or not is debatable.
9 Ground plan of excavations.
10 The church today is as described, in a state of good upkeep and still used.
 
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: Victoria County History, vol 6, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1951
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: VI
   
Source No: 4
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: 6
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: St Edith's Church, Monk's Kirby
Author/originator: Geering A
Date: 1977
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
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: 9
Source Type: Plan
Title: Plan of Church of St. Editha
Author/originator:
Date: 1978
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Plan
Title: TBAS vol 40
Author/originator: Cossins J A
Date: 1914
Page Number: 45
Volume/Sheet: 40
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMANS no 21
Author/originator: Wright S M
Date: 1978
Page Number: 83
Volume/Sheet: 21
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Site Visit
Title: SMR Card
Author/originator: Thompson D J
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: PRN 3264
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: OS Card, 47SW
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: SP47SWM
   
Images:  
St Editha's Church, Monks Kirby
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Click here for larger image  
 
St Editha's Church, Monks Kirby
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Click here for larger image  
 
St. Edith's Church, Monks Kirby
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1930s
Click here for larger image  
 
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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 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 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
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WMANS West Midlands Archaeological News Sheet, a publication that was produced each year, this later became West Midlands Archaeology. The West Midlands Arcaheological News Sheet contains reports about archaeological work that was carried out in the West Midlands region in the previous year. It includes information about sites dating from the Prehistoric to the Post Medieval periods. It was produced the Department of Extramural Studies at Birmingham University. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique excavation Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.

Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
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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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monument TABLE TOMB * A type of tomb in the form of a slab raised on freestanding legs. 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 POST OFFICE * A building, department or shop where postal business is carried on. back
monument SHRINE * A place where worship is offered or devotions are paid to a deity or saint. 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 PRIORY * A monastery governed by a prior or prioress. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, FRIARY, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument ABBEY * A religious house governed by an abbot or abbess. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument VESTRY * A room or part of a church where the vestments, vessels and records are kept. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. 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 WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument TOMB * A grave or sepulchre including a monument. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record