Page 10 - Oundle Life December 2020
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provided the central cruciform layout which
is still evident today in St Peter’s plan form, however only a few remnants of that Norman church remain, most notably: one chancel window with roll moulding visible from the North Chapel, some pieces of zigzag from an arch, and a small capital with similar moulding. Alas I couldn’t locate them on my walk around.
The 13th and 15th centuries witnessed the greatest transformations as the church was extended in all directions to accommodate far larger congregations. And, as the stubby Norman tower – which had been centrally located on the cruciform plan – was taken down, the spectacular west tower was erected as a new and far more visible symbol of Oundle’s importance and wealth; to this day it remains the tallest spire in the whole of Northamptonshire.
Church Drawings taken from W. Smalley Law, Oundle’s Story:
A History of Town and School (London: The Sheldon Press, 1922)
Joe Croser, first studied architecture in Oxford, and later completed postgrad research into historic buildings in Cambridge. Today he leads Oundle Architecture with a particular
focus on residential design and historic building conservation and refurbishment. www.oundlearchitecture.com
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