NorthamptonshireCANONSASHBYStMary(wehhaCC-BY-SA3.0)1 Wehha

St Mary

Sitting on top of the hill, just across the road from Canons Ashby House, this church is looked after by the National Trust, it is a fragment of the west end of the nave of the Augustinian Priory founded around 1150.

Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire

Oriau agor

The church is open during the day time.

Cyfeiriad

Canons Ashby
Northamptonshire
NN11 3SD

St Mary’s has a splendid facade lying adjacent to the large tower that was added in the mid 14th century. Inside, at the base of that tower, is a well laid out museum devoted to the building, which includes a model of the original monastic buildings.

Internally the church is a large barn like space giving a sense of the sheer scale of the medieval original. The nave then was 29 metres long and this was followed by an equally long chancel.

The large windows shed light on the whitewashed walls decorated around the east window with faux curtains held back by putti. This is by Elizabeth Creed around 1710. She was a cousin of the Dryden family who arrived here following the Dissolution of the monastery and who built the adjacent house. In the church their hatchments, armour and two outstanding neo classical white marble tombs, both by Rossi, can be seen.

The poet John Dryden was a cousin of the family and the remains of the archaeologist Sir Henry Dryden lie in the churchyard under a tall Celtic cross. Few churches in the county have such resonance from both Medieval and Georgian times.

  • Social heritage stories

  • National heritage here

  • Glorious furnishings

  • Fascinating churchyard

  • Enchanting atmosphere

  • Captivating architecture

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Space to secure your bike

  • Parking within 250m

  • On street parking at church

  • Level access to the main areas

  • Dog friendly

  • Accessible toilets nearby

  • National Trust

Contact information

Other nearby churches

Nederlandse Kerk

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The Dutch Church is a reformed church on the site of the 13th century Augustinian friary, the original building granted to Protestant refugees for their church services in 1550 was destroyed during the London Blitz.

St Michael Cornhill

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The church lies over the remains of the Basilica, the northern most part of the great Roman Forum built in the first century AD.

San Steffan

Hen Faesyfed, Powys

Er iddi gael ei llosgi yn ystod Gwrthryfel Glyndŵr yn 1401, mae gan Eglwys Sant Steffan hanes cystal ag unrhyw gastell, gyda chroglen ganoloesol brin ac organ a all fod yr hynaf yn y DU.