Description

KING'S NORTON

SK 60 SE

5/63 Church of St. John the Baptist

29.12.66

GV I

Church. 1757-75. By John Wing the Younger, of Leicester, for William Fortrey,
the Squire of King's Norton. Ashlar with parapetted roof. W tower with nave
and chancel under one roof. In Gothic Revival style with plinth, buttresses
and angle buttresses with set-offs, and the windows with ogee hood moulds
and label stops. W tower of 4 stages. W doorway and various windows, quatrefoil
and cusped diamond openings in lower 3 stages. 3 friezes of quatrefoils,
circles with wheels of mouchettes, and cusped triangles, 4 paired 2-light
bell openings, machicolated frieze, cornice frieze, openwork parapet of quatrefoils
and crocketted pinnacles. A crocketted spire was destroyed by lightning
in 1850. The nave has 7 2-light windows either side, with transoms and Reticulated
tracery. Above is a cusped triangle frieze, an openwork parapet of quatrefoils,
and crocketted pinnacles. On E end 3 windows, all with Late Geometrical tracery.
Very fine interior laid out on collegiate plan and contemporary. W gallery
on Roman Doric columns. 3-decker pulpit at E end-of nave with gates either
side to chancel. These and communion rail in Gothick style. Carved wooden
reredos. Gothick font. Box pews. Royal Arms on canvas. Clock and chiming
machine dated 1765 and inscribed to Joseph Eayre of St. Neots who cast most
of the bells. On N side projecting from wall a finely carved stone monument
and protecting wrought iron railing. Over pedestal with inscription panel
to John Smalley, died 1763, and wife, a coat of arms with broken pediment
over and urn with flame finial to either side. 'Of the churches of the Early
Gothic Revival this is one of the most remarkable in England ... The whole
and especially the tower show a seriousness of purpose not surpassed before
1800.... The interior is wonderfully complete and unchanged' Pevsner. King's
Norton Parish Church guide, Leicester, 1976.

Listing NGR: SK6890500494

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17530632

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)