More information : (SP 74747121) All Saint's Church. (1)
Brixworth Church: 'Perhaps the most imposing architectural memorial of the C7th yet surviving north of the Alps' (a).
'Beyond all comparison the most remarkable extant monument of the
period'(b), 'probably the most impressive early Saxon building in the
country'(c). The probability is that it was the church of a Mercian
monastery and that St Wilfrid was the builder. "There are indications
of a pre-existing (presumably Roman) building under the tower and
west end of the present church.'
The major part of the surviving building is 7thc with re-used Roman
Brick. There was rebuilding in the 10thc or early 11thc.
Additions were made in 12th, 13th and 15thcs; and some of the
original features were restored in the mid 19thc. (2-3)
In normal use (4)
A Church of All Saints
Circa 670. Built of sandstone and ironstone rubble with the arches of
the bays and the clerestorey windows and a doorway in the tower
turned in rings of Roman bricks. Originally an aisled basilica of 4
bays opening into a square presbytery with an apse beyond. No trace
of the aisles remains and of a range of annexes at the West end all
that remains is a central porch supporting a later tower to which has
been added a limestone spire. Against the West side of this central
porch there is a small C.10 circular tower. The main arcades are
blocked (C.19 dressed sandstone and stained glass windows) and form
part of the outer walls. Ref:- Sir A. Clapham, English Romanesque
Architecture Vol.I, p.33. (5)
Roman settlement (?) (SP 74727122) perhaps under Brixworth church.
In 1971 a small excavation in the NW angle between the tower and the nave led to the discovery of a few stratified Roman sherds, a piece of roof tile and a pit or ditch which was also probably Roman. Medieval pottery and coins were found in the same area. (6)
Finds from the site include the following; Three coins found during an excavation which cut the tower on its north side thus supporting the claim of pre-church Roman activity. A piece of scaffolding from a put-log filled with builders waste found in the south clestry which has been radio carbon dates to AD 910 (+ or - 40). Evidence for two layers of rendering from the Anglo-Saxon panels of the apse which has been sampled and analyzed. One piece of Roman window glass. For plans of the church see figs.1-2. (7)
The original date for the construction of the church is not known but it was probably in the late 7th or ealry 8th centuries. Evidence comes from documents which mention the site in connection with two late 7th century abbots of Peterborough although the actual cnstruction of the church was probably not until the 8th century. The great monastery at Peterborough was called Madeshamestede by the Anglo-Saxons, it is claimed that they set up many daughter houses including Brixworth. Brixworth has also been identified with the location of Clofesho where several church synods were held during the 9th century, but there is no direct evidence for this. There was no monastery at Brixworth after the conquest, the monks had probably left at the time of the Danish raids in the 9th century.
Excavations carried out by the Brixworth Archaeological Research Committee in 1972, revealed a large ditch to the west of the church dated to the late 7th century. It is possible that this represents an early monastic boundary. Six burials were also uncovered and may the monks cemetery next adjacent to the ditch.
The earliest plan of the church has been compared with Hexham and there is evidence of Kentish influence in the primary construction of the building.
Construction of the sunken ambulatory or crypt around the outside of the eastern apse is dated to around 850. Entrance to the ambulatory/crypt was by two doors, partly visible today above the floor of the choir to the north and south of the sanctuary arch. The function of this feature is contentious, but has been compared with the later sunken walkway at Repton although there are no direct parallels. One suggestion is that the ambulatory housed a relic of St Boniface, a missionary to Europe in the 8th century. [For a fuller discussion see (7c)].
In the 9th century alterations were made to the west porch which was raised to form a tower and triple arch was constructed into the west wall. The stair turret was probably the latest Anglo-Saxon feature to be added. (8)
Excavation in 1981, (figs.7-8), of two porticus and narthex proves that the two were constructed at the same time. The excavation of the graves in the eastern porticus show evidence of re-use and excavation of the west end of the church revealed fragments of Roman masonry in the foundations of the porticus construction trenches. The narthex was built over a fill of the (? boundary) ditch. (9) |