History
The
church
being
largely
constructed
of
pebble
and
rubble
with
dressing
of
barnack
stone
has
required
constant
attention
and
was
extensively
restored
in
1870-71
when
the
north
aisle
was
completely
rebuilt,
much
window
tracery
renewed,
the
south porch partly rebuilt and a new font provided.
There
are
several
features
of
interest,
the
tower
and
spire
being
the
most
important
and
of
unusual
design,
only
those
at
Grafham
and
Old
Weston
being
similar.
It
is
of
three
stages,
the
two
lowest
being
square
but
the
third,
which
includes
the
belfry
turns
octagonal
in
its
upper
half.
At
the
angles
where
the
change
takes
place
arc
four
pinnacles
minus
their
tops
which
traditionally
are
said
to
have
blown
down
in
the
great
storm
of
1741
when
much
damage
was
done
to
buildings
all
over
the
district,
windmills
being
overturned
and
spires
destroyed.
In
each
cardinal
face
is
a
two-light
window
above
which
is
a
battlemented
parapet.
The
tall
spire,
which
has
a
noticeable
entasis,
has
two
sets
of
spire-lights
and seems too big for the tower.
In
the
chancel
is
a
remarkable
and
beautiful
double
piscina
of
the
mid-13th
century
which
retains
two
round
drains
and
the
original
wooden
shelf
for
holding
the
napkins
and
cruets
used
during
the
communion
service.
Opposite
is
a
curious
stone
seat
with
shaped
arms,
reputed
to
be
also
of
the
13th
century.
Its
precise
use
is
unknown
and
until
recently,
it
stood
at
the
west
end
of
the
aisle.
A
modern
double
screen
was
removed
from
the
chancel
arch
to
the
great
improvement
of
the
interior
and
part
used
to
form
a
vestry
at
the
west
end
of
the
north
aisle.
The
original
rood
screen
disappeared
long
ago;
its
loft
may
have
been
reached
by
a
stair
on
the
south
side
of
the
chancel
arch
where
is
a
tall
recess.
The
inner
order
of
the
arch
is
rebated
for
a
wooden
tympanum
which
formed
the
background
for
the
great
Crucifix
and
its
attendant
figures
of
St.
Mary
and
§t.
John,
a
rare
example
of
this
kind
of
fitting
in
Huntingdonshire.
All
the
stained
glass
and
furnishings
are modern but the plate includes an Elizabethan communion cup.
Close by the south porch is the restored headstone of Thomas Garner, the village blacksmith who died in 1826.
THE CHURCH OF ST. MARGARETS
(ALL SAINTS) AT WYTON
All
Saints'
is
a
typical
post-Reformation
dedication
but
there
is
evidence
that
the
original
dedication
was
to
St.
Margaret.
As
at
Houghton,
there
is
no
trace
of
a
Saxon
church
but
something
remains
of
its
Norman
successor.
Built
into
the
nave
walls
may
be
seen
various
stones
carved
with
chevron
ornament
and
the
western
half
of
the
south
wall
of
the
chancel
and
much
of
the
south
wall
of
the
nave
are
thicker
than
elsewhere
pointing
to
12th
century
origin.
From
such
scant
evidence
as
exists
it
would
appear
the
Norman
church
had
a
small
chancel
and
an
aisleless
nave
extending
only
as
far
as
the third arch of the north arcade.
About
the
beginning
of
the
13th
century
the
nave
was
extended
westward
to
its
present
length
and
a
north
aisle
of
four
bays
added.
There
may
have
been
a
bell
turret
over
the
western
gable.
A
little
later
the
chancel
appears
to
have
been
doubled
in
length,
the
new
walls
being
thinner
than
the
Norman
and
on
the
south
at
the
junction
with
the
extension
a
priest's
door
was
inserted.
Late
in
the
same
century
a
two-light
window
was
placed
in
the
north
wall
but
it
seems
to
have
been re-set in its present position at some later date.
Towards
the
end
of
the
14th
century
the
chancel
underwent
further
extensive
restoration.
A
new
window
of
three-lights
took
the
place
of
an
earlier
one
in
the
east
wall
and
another
smaller
one
was
introduced
on
the
south
side
east
of
the
priest’s
door.
The
chancel
arch
was
widened
and
a
new
south
doorway
to
the
nave
inserted.
The
roofs
were
reconstructed and a series of carved corbels which supported that of the chancel remain.
The
only
later
improvements
before
the
Reformation
were
the
large
three-light
window
in
the
south
wall
of
the
nave
about 1450 and another west of the priest's door made at the beginning of the 16th century.
There
was
apparently
a
chapel
east
of
the
north
aisle
which
opened
to
the
chancel
by
an
archway.
It
was
destroyed
at
some
period
and
the
archway
built
up.
The
addition
of
the
vestry
and
organ
chamber
on
its
site
in
the
19th
century
caused
the
destruction
of
the
archway
and
the
14th
century
window,
shorn
of
its
head,
now
rebuilt
in
the
north
wall
may
have been part of the chapel as it was in the infilling of the arch.
At
some
further
unknown
date
a
wooden
tower
and
spire
were
added
at
the
west
end
of
the
nave
and
a
water
colour
of
it
hangs
on
the
north
wall
of
the
chancel
of
St.
Mary’s
which
incidentally
also
shows
the
nave
partly
unroofed
and
the
whole
building
in
a
sad
condition.
This
tower
was
replaced
in
1846
by
a
brick
one
which
had
large
two-light
belfry
windows
and
a
striking
cross
saddle-back
roof,
shown
in
a
photograph
at
the
County
Record
Office.
Some
20
years
later,
in
1866,
it
was
removed
possibly
because
it
was
unsafe,
and
the
present
tower
and
spire
about
which
the
less
said
the
better,
were
built
in
its
place.
At
this
time
a
comprehensive
restoration
of
the
whole
building
was
undertaken
when
the
north
aisle
was
completely
rebuilt,
the
vestry
and
south
porch
added,
and
a
large
four-light
window
inserted
in
the
west
wall
to
give
more
light
to
the
nave.
The
roofs
were
reconstructed
to
a
steep
pitch
and
some
large
and
fearsome
gargoyles, previously adorning the former brick lower, were inserted in the new aisle wall.
HISTORY
The church being largely constructed of pebble and
rubble with dressing of barnack stone has required
constant attention and was extensively restored in
1870-71 when the north aisle was completely
rebuilt, much window tracery renewed, the south
porch partly rebuilt and a new font provided.
There are several features of interest, the tower and
spire being the most important and of unusual
design, only those at Grafham and Old Weston
being similar. It is of three stages, the two lowest
being square but the third, which includes the
belfry turns octagonal in its upper half. At the
angles where the change takes place arc four
pinnacles minus their tops which traditionally are
said to have blown down in the great storm of 1741
when much damage was done to buildings all over
the district, windmills being overturned and spires
destroyed. In each cardinal face is a two-light
window above which is a battlemented parapet.
The tall spire, which has a noticeable entasis, has
two sets of spire-lights and seems too big for the
tower.
In the chancel is a remarkable and beautiful double
piscina of the mid-13th century which retains two
round drains and the original wooden shelf for
holding the napkins and cruets used during the
communion service. Opposite is a curious stone
seat with shaped arms, reputed to be also of the
13th century. Its precise use is unknown and until
recently, it stood at the west end of the aisle. A
modern double screen was removed from the
chancel arch to the great improvement of the
interior and part used to form a vestry at the west
end of the north aisle. The original rood screen
disappeared long ago; its loft may have been
reached by a stair on the south side of the chancel
arch where is a tall recess. The inner order of the
arch is rebated for a wooden tympanum which
formed the background for the great Crucifix and
its attendant figures of St. Mary and §t. John, a rare
example of this kind of fitting in Huntingdonshire.
All the stained glass and furnishings are modern
but the plate includes an Elizabethan communion
cup.
Close by the south porch is the restored headstone
of Thomas Garner, the village blacksmith who died
in 1826.
THE CHURCH OF ST. MARGARETS
(ALL SAINTS) AT WYTON
All Saints' is a typical post-Reformation dedication
but there is evidence that the original dedication
was to St. Margaret. As at Houghton, there is no
trace of a Saxon church but something remains of
its Norman successor. Built into the nave walls
may be seen various stones carved with chevron
ornament and the western half of the south wall of
the chancel and much of the south wall of the nave
are thicker than elsewhere pointing to 12th century
origin. From such scant evidence as exists it would
appear the Norman church had a small chancel and
an aisleless nave extending only as far as the third
arch of the north arcade.
About the beginning of the 13th century the nave
was extended westward to its present length and a
north aisle of four bays added. There may have
been a bell turret over the western gable. A little
later the chancel appears to have been doubled in
length, the new walls being thinner than the
Norman and on the south at the junction with the
extension a priest's door was inserted. Late in the
same century a two-light window was placed in the
north wall but it seems to have been re-set in its
present position at some later date.
Towards the end of the 14th century the chancel
underwent further extensive restoration. A new
window of three-lights took the place of an earlier
one in the east wall and another smaller one was
introduced on the south side east of the priest’s
door. The chancel arch was widened and a new
south doorway to the nave inserted. The roofs were
reconstructed and a series of carved corbels which
supported that of the chancel remain.
The only later improvements before the
Reformation were the large three-light window in
the south wall of the nave about 1450 and another
west of the priest's door made at the beginning of
the 16th century.
There was apparently a chapel east of the north
aisle which opened to the chancel by an archway. It
was destroyed at some period and the archway built
up. The addition of the vestry and organ chamber
on its site in the 19th century caused the
destruction of the archway and the 14th century
window, shorn of its head, now rebuilt in the north
wall may have been part of the chapel as it was in
the infilling of the arch.
At some further unknown date a wooden tower and
spire were added at the west end of the nave and a
water colour of it hangs on the north wall of the
chancel of St. Mary’s which incidentally also
shows the nave partly unroofed and the whole
building in a sad condition. This tower was
replaced in 1846 by a brick one which had large
two-light belfry windows and a striking cross
saddle-back roof, shown in a photograph at the
County Record Office. Some 20 years later, in
1866, it was removed possibly because it was
unsafe, and the present tower and spire about which
the less said the better, were built in its place. At
this time a comprehensive restoration of the whole
building was undertaken when the north aisle was
completely rebuilt, the vestry and south porch
added, and a large four-light window inserted in the
west wall to give more light to the nave. The roofs
were reconstructed to a steep pitch and some large
and fearsome gargoyles, previously adorning the
former brick lower, were inserted in the new aisle
wall.
