The marvellous medieval monuments at St Mary the Virgin church, Dodford, Northamptonshire

Effigy of Sir Robert de Keynes at Dodford, Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire is a county rich in history and architectural heritage. The medieval monuments at Dodford church, the church of St Mary the Virgin, is a spectacular combination of both, built of the rich golden ironstone which so typifies the county whilst containing a wealth of historical features within which have rightly resulted in the church’s Grade 1 listed status.

Approaching the church from the Southeast, it is immediately apparent that the main wall of the nave is unusually tall with evidence of early round-headed windows, suggesting a building of some antiquity. Indeed, the church in its earliest form dates back at least to the early twelfth century, a fact further confirmed by the presence of a magnificent circular Norman font inside, richly carved all round with substantial foliage motifs.

Approaching the church from the south east - notice the tall nave

But what is perhaps most impressive about this church is the unusual quantity of medieval monuments it contains including lords and ladies from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries in either Purbeck marble, alabaster, oak or in brass. It is this collection which makes a visit worthwhile and spiritually uplifting.

Sir Robert de Keynes – 13th century

The stunning Purbeck marble effigy to Sir Robert de Keynes at Dodford.

Dating from ca. 1300, this remarkable effigy is thought to depict Sir Robert de Keynes (d. 1281). Created from fine Purbeck marble, the recumbent effigy Sir Robert shows him cross-legged and wearing an unusual form of banded chainmail.

The hardness of the stone has ensured that significant detail has been preserved; we are drawn particularly to his shield with its rich incised detail showing two plain bars interspersed with those of vair. I understand the  family colours to have been gules (red) for the bars and argent and azure (silver and blue) for vair.

Hawise de Keynes (13th century) and her grand-daughter Wentiliana (14th century)

The monuments to Hawise de Keynes (right) and her grand-daughter Wentiliana (left)

A tomb recess in the north wall of the church contains a remarkable effigy of a woman, thought to be Robert’s wife, Hawise de Lisle. Carved from a solid piece of oak which has been dated to ca. 1280, the effigy is much decayed by time although significant detail still remains, including exquisite workmanship showing the folds of her headdress.

In front of Hawise lies Wentiliana de Keynes (d. 1375?), grand-daughter of Robert de Keynes through his second son, William (d. 1344) and his wife Margaret, who may have died at the time of the second plague in 1361. Wentiliana seems plainly dressed, her head borne by two angels; the tomb chest features a frieze of mourners below her body.

John de Cressy and William Wylde, St Mary the Virgin, Dodford, Northamptonshire – early 15th century

Monument to Sir John de Cressy and his wife, Cristina, at Dodford, Northamptonshire

On the floor between the effigies of Sir Robert and Hawise can be seen a pair of fifteenth century brasses showing Sir John de Cressy (d. 1414) and his wife Cristina and Sir William Wylde (d. 1442) and his wife Cecilia.

I discuss both these brasses in more detail in my article on medieval monumental brasses, here.

Sir John Cressy – mid 15th century

Alabaster effigy to Sir John Cressy at Dodford, Northamptonshire

The Cressy family is also commemorated with a magnificent alabaster tomb chest to Sir John Cressy (d. 1444). Although not as fine as the Brereton tomb at Malpas in Cheshire, it nonetheless shows Sir John similarly wearing the Lancastrian SS collar and equally exquisite armour of the period.  His head rests upon his great helm, bearing the head of a man as its crest, while at his feet a lion looks up in permanent guardianship.

Sir John enjoyed a significant military career in France, as is alluded to on the tomb itself; it is thought he died there on 3rd March, 1444. For an extensive account of the career of Sir John Cressy, please see this post by Professor Anne Curry.

Setting

The church of St. Mary the Virgin at Dodford, Northamptonshire

Given the age of the church and its wealth of monuments, the visitor might expect to find a castle nearby suggestive of lordship. However, it seems that Dodford may simply have been a rich lordship in relatively safe lands; neither early earthworks nor later stone buildings survive to suggest the village was ever anything other than a highly valuable asset to lords whose main residences lay elsewhere.

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Gallery of monuments and architectural features at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Northamptonshire

The church from the north

View of the church from the south east

Purbeck perfection - effigy to Sir Robert de Keynes

Detail of Sir Robert de Keynes

Tomb recess showing effigies to Hawise and Wentiliana de Keynes

In stone and wood - effigies to Hawise and Wentiliana de Keynes

Hawise de Keynes, carved from oak

Detail of effigy of Wentiliana de Keynes

Detail of Sir John de Cressy, Dodford

Detail of Cristina de Cressy, Dodford

Brass to Sir William Wylde and his wife Cecilia at Dodford

Brass to Sir John de Cressy and his wife Cristina, Dodford

Effigy of Sir John Cressy (d. 1444)

Detail of effigy to John Cressy

Sir John Cressy in his setting

Loyal servant - lion at the feet of Sir Robert de Keynes

Detail of mourner on the Cressy tomb - notice the de Keynes heraldry

Mourner detail - different arms

Eternal sleep - Sir John Cressy's effigy in its setting

Cracking font - Norman magnificence at Dodford

Font with view down the nave

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About the author, Michael Smith

Michael Smith is a British translator and illustrator of medieval literature; he is also an accomplished printmaker, whose work is in private collections worldwide.

His books, including a translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the Alliterative Morte Arthure, are available through all the usual outlets. His translation of The Romance of William and the Werewolf was published in 2024. All Michael's books feature his linocut prints as their illustrations.

For more details of Michael's books and how to purchase signed copies, click here.

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