Cottesbrooke

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ĖCottesbrooke is a village in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire in England. The village is small, being home to only approximately 50 persons. The estate was bought by the Langham baronets, a family of London turkey merchants, in 1637, previously belonging to the Saunders family. The estate was sold in 1911 to Lord Gerald Wellesley, brother to the Duke of Wellington and again in the 1930s to the current owners, the MacDonald-Buchanan family.

[edit] Architecture

ALL SAINTS. A long, cruciform church of circa 1300, except that the North transcept has been demolished. Much restoration has been carried out on the building, most recently in 1959-60 by Lord Mottistone of Seely & Paget. The large Geometric windows cannot be relied upon and may have once been foliated. The South doorway and porch is in a good state, as is the West tower. This latter has two-light Y-traced bell-openings supported by circular mullions, well preserved shafting on the interior windows with capitals, both carved and plain, and also a number of small exterior head-stops. The two East windows, glazed with coloured panes, are believed to be Georgian in origin, being referred to as 'recent' additions in documents dating from 1849. The nave roof has a ceiling, the painted imitation-plasterwork in the covings being of interest, believed to be 18th century work. During the last restoration, the plaster ceilings in the chancel and the remaining South trancept were removed, exposing roof timbers from the 15th century. -There is a REREDOS and COMMUNION TABLE by Lord Mottistone in the Wrenian style. These are placed half-way along the chancel so that a vestry is formed behind. -There is a wooden FONT and COVER dating from the 18th century, which is kept at COTTESBROOKE HALL and may be viewed upon application. -The church boasts one of the finest examples of a three-tier PULPIT in the county, if not the whole country, and is fitted with fine BOX PEWS. This Georgian work is complemented by a STAIRCASE with fine balusters leading to the Squire's pew in the South transcept of similar date. The small 'squint', with delicately carved hoodmoulding, in the junction between the chancel and the South transcept is worth notice. -The PLATE, consisting of a Cup and Paten from 1635 and also two Flagons and a Breadholder of 1665, is held at COTTESBROOKE HALL and may be viewed upon request. -There are a number of large MONUMENTS:

• John Rede † 1604 in the South chapel is of alabaster stone with a recumbent effigy in marble on a partially rolled mat. There is a flat arch spanning two columns, with a large cartouche beneath. On the ground are the figures of 10 kneeling infants.
• Sir John Langham † 1671 and wife, also in the South chapel. It is free-standing in grey and white marble with good feshy cartouches on the tomb-chest. There are two recumbent effigies with much lively carving. The monument cost £290 in 1676 and is by Thomas Cartwright Senior.
• Mrs. Mary Langham † 1773, housed in the chancel with a classical urn by Moore.
• Sir James † 1795, featuring a long inscription and a standing figure of a female beside an urn.
• Lady Langham † 1807, with a figure of Faith standing, by Bacon Junior.
• Marianne † 1809, but actually made in 1810, is simple with merely a draped urn, by Bacon Junior.
• Lady Langham † 1810, including a number of columns and a depiction of the rock of Golgotha.
• Sir William † 1812 is a free-standing monument of Coade stone, again by Bacon Junior. It is located in the nave.

[edit] Sources

• Pevsner's Buildings of England
• Northamptonshire Villages, the NCFWI