St Edmund, King & Martyr
Hardingstone, Northamptonshire
The village church has a long association with Delapré Abbey, from its links to the earliest community of Cluniac nuns to the generous support of its 19th century Bouverie benefactors.
In the 12th century it was owned by Gilbert and Michael de Preston. The village appears to have always been small. Only six people are recorded here in the Domesday Book and in the 10th century there were just ten houses. Earthworks of the deserted village are visible south of the church.
Nothing is known for certain about the church before the 12th century when it was given to St Andrews Priory, Northampton by Gilbert de Preston. However archaeological work has uncovered a decorated horizontal string course running from the side walls round the inside of the chancel arch, dating from the 10th or early 11th century.
Under the paint the south side revealed the carving of a snake with protruding tongue and the north side depicts two birds with outspread wings and fanned tails. In the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I the church became very ruinous and during this time the chancel was used as a kennel for greyhounds and the tower was a pigeon loft. However, the church was restored in the 17th century and another major restoration took place in 1901.
