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THIS remarkable structure, which is dedicated to St. Peter, is situated near the extremity of the town on the west side, and at a short distance from the site of the ancient castle of Northampton. At what time the Church was built no certain account can be obtained; it is probable, however, that it was erected by one of the Norman lords who held possession of the castle; this opinion is strengthened by the style of its architecture, and its proximity to that fortress. The rectory of St. Peter was given to St. Andrew's Priory, in the town of Northampton, by Simon de St. Luz, and confirmed by Hugh Wells, bishop of Lincoln, who was translated to that see in the year 1209. The right of patronage reverted to the crown in the reign of Henry III. when the rectory was valued at thirty marks, besides ten marks to the prior of St. Andrew's: in 1535, the twenty-sixth year of Henry VIII. it was valued at 341. 13s. 4d. out of which was deducted 108. 8d. for procurations and synodals: it continued a considerable time with the crown, and was afterwards given to the masters, brethren, and sisters of St. Catharine's Hospital, London. It is recorded by Brydges, in his History of Northamptonshire, that "It was the privilege of this Church, that a person accused of any crime,

intending to clear himself by canonical purgation, should do it here, and in no other place in the town, having first performed his vigil and prayers in the said Church the evening before."

The exterior of this Church, as well as the interior, has undergone various alterations at different times, which is apparent in many parts by the discordancy of its architecture; notwithstanding which there are few more perfect specimens of the kind to be found. The buttresses on the western corner of the tower are composed of three semicolumns conjoined, diminishing in width at each story as they ascend, and finishing under the upper moulding of the tower in a single half column, with a pointed cap. Over the west door, which is now merely an entrance to the tower, is a small window of the Gothic kind, above which is an arch confposed of three ornamented mouldings; over this are a number of arches supported by semi-columns with capitals; these arches are continued round the tower, and have on the north side the addition of a lower tier; the upper ranges have two fillets above them, supported by a number of fanciful heads, and the base of their columns stands upon a moulding, the under part of which is indented in the zigzag

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manner, and supported by heads like the fillets above: under the lower range of arches on the north side are two mouldings ornamented with diamond work. The windows of the belfry are long, and handsomely formed, with a cross mullion in the middle; the mouldings of the tower below them, as well as those above, are very fresh, and have a considerable projection; the battlements are likewise sharp and perfect. The body of the Church has a train of circular arches on each side, some of which are open and glazed, and above them is a string of fifty-four grotesque heads. The interior of the Church consists of a body and two aisles; the breadth of the body, including the aisles, is thirtyfive feet and a half, its length seventy-eight feet; the length of the tower is fourteen feet three inches, breadth twelve feet eight inches. On each side of the body are seven columns which divide it from the aisles; three of them are composed of semi-columns, the others have but one shaft: the last column on each side, at the western extremity of the church, has a band of mouldings in the middle; the capital of each column is ornamented diversely with foliage and other decorations; above are eight arches of a

semi-circular form adorned with zigzag indentures. The west end of the Church is separated from the tower by a large arch more highly enriched than the side arches, and supported by six elegant pillars, three of which are plain, the others variously embossed. The roof, which was formerly of beamwork, is now a complete flat of uninteresting plaster. There are no monuments worthy of particular notice. The churches of Kingsthorpe and Upton are annexed to it as chapels of ease.

A little without the west gate formerly stood the Castle upon a very considerable eminence, overlooking the meads and the country about Dunston; on the western side runs that branch of the Nyne which comes from Naseby. It was built by Simon de St. Luz, the first of that name who was earl of Northampton. It had a large keep, and a royal free chapel dedicated to St. George. A stipendary chaplain was presented to this chapel by the crown, with the yearly salary of 18. Some time previous to the year 1675 the remains of the castle were used as the county gaol; nothing of it is now standing excepting a few fragments of the walls.

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