FOTHERINGHAY. CHURCH: ST MARY AND ALL SAINTS

Fotheringhay has one of the most historic churches in the catchment area of this site. The church of St Mary and All Saints was built in the 15th Century, close to Fotheringhay castle, which had been built as early as 1100. Today, the church of St Mary and All Angels is an impressive building. Built at the side of the river Nene, in picturesque countryside, the church dominates the area for miles around.

  However, in past times, it would have been even more impressive, as at one time the size of the church would have been twice what it is today. In 1411 Edward of York founded a college in the church. This was closed in 1548, with the fixtures and fittings being scattered amongst various churches in the county. The outline of a blocked doorway and windows on the South wall of the church indicates where the college was joined to the rest of the church.

  Richard III was born at Fotheringhay, and Mary Queen of Scots was help prisoner at Fotheringhay from 1586 until her execution the following year.

  Close to the church is the area where Fotheringhay Castle stood. Nothing remains now except the Motte and Bailey on the banks of the Nene. Steps are built in to the side of this and it is possible to get on top of the mound, the reward being a great view of miles of beautiful East Northamptonshire countryside.

  The church was open on both occasions that I visited. Several monuments inside for members of the House of York, including a stained glass window detailing the coat of arms. The painted pulpit is worthy of mention, dating from the 15th Century, this was a present from Edward 4th.

  On an exterior wall, a row of beautifully carved gargoyles proudly sit. A booklet that was available in the church indicates that these gargoyles were carvings of actual people of the time. Amongst the people depicted are architech William Horwood (and his dog), the master stonemason of the day, the Duke of York and his wife Cecily, Duchess of York, both of whom were interred at the church.

  Fotheringhay is a quite exquisite village. Apart from the church and castle mound there is a high quality public house, some beautiful old buildings, a few sheep and horses. Few better places to be on a warm Summer afternoon than on the banks of the river Nene, to the South of the church!

  Church grounds are well kept. They are, though, the only thing concerning this church that I feel a little disappointed about. A huge amount of history here, but there is little worthy of noting in the grounds. There are no datable gravestones earlier that mid 18th Century. Others look older, but are too worn to date. I suspect that one or two might be late 17th Century but there is some guesswork there. One stone appears to have the deaths head, a skull symbolising Man's Mortality, but this was very badly worn. A shame this, as surviving examples in this part of East Northants are thin on the ground.

  The tower of St Mary and All Saints dominates the landscape for miles around. It is even visible from high ground on the back roads in to Warmington a few miles away. Even from distance, the tower, with its Flying Buttresses, is unmistakable.

The photograph above, of the top of the tower at Fotheringhay, was taken from the top of the nearby Castle mound