Parish church. Angle-Saxon origin, late C12 north aisle C13 south aisle, C14 chancel tower, perhaps C12 heightened C15, other C15 alterations (especially windows), restored C19 and 1904-6. Coursed limestone rubble and ashlar roofs probably of lead. West tower and spire, aisled nave, chancel flanked by chapels, C19 north-east vestry and south porch. 4-stage west tower has moulded plinth clasping buttresses quatrefoil frieze with gargoyles at angles and castellated parapet. Twin 2-light Perpendicular bell-openings with transoms. West face has moulded pointed entrance arch with C19 double doors, 2-light Perpendicular window and tiny stair-light. South face has clock face and stair lights. Recessed octagonal spire with finial and eathervane. Plain parapets with gargoyles, to nave and aisles. South aisle has buttresses and sill band and from left to right, C19 gabled porch, 3 3- light square-headed windows with cusped lights, a blocked window and a lancet. North aisle has similar windows, one of 3 lights and 3 of 2 lights, a simple pointed-arch doorway and a chimney at east end. Chancel has angle buttresses and Decorated windows, of 5 lights to east, 3 lights to south end, 2 lights to north. Clerestory windows, 3 to nave and 3 to chancel, square-headed with 3 cusped lights at south aisle. Pointed south doorway with C19 door. The Queen Eleanor Pilgrimage Following the death of his beloved wife, Queen Eleanor , on November 28th 1290 at Harby , near Lincoln, King Edward I accompanied her funeral procession on its journey to Lon don, where she was to be buried in Westminster Abbey . At each place that the procession stopped overnight, the King ordered a cross to be erected in her name. These cro sses are now known as the ‘ Eleanor Crosses ’ , although very few of the twelve originals now rema in intact. The twelve sites are: Lincoln, Grantham, Stamford, Geddington, Northampton , Stony Stratford, Woburn, Dunstable, St Albans, Waltham Cross, Cheapside and Charing Cross. This cache is currently the closest cache to the site of one o f these crosses and forms part of the ‘ Queen Eleanor Pilgrimage ’ , along with Lincoln Cathedral , where her viscera are interred, Blackfriars, where her heart was placed, and Harby and W estminster, the start and end of her final journey. Further information on the crosses can be found here . A bookmark list of all the caches currently in the series ca n be found here . A badge has been produced for each of these caches for yo u to collect and place on your profile as you visit them. The first four cachers to visit each of t hese caches will receive a commemorativ e ‘ tag ’ and a final badge for their profile. Contact me if you think that you qualify. Tentmantent
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