Grade II*

Church of St. Bartholomew, Foston Lane, Foston

Church. Fabric dates back in part to C10 or C11 though most is early C14 and it was extensively restored and altered in 1874. Granite rubble with limestone dressings and Swithland slate roofs. West tower, nave with north aisle and chancel in one. Tower is wider than it is long, since part of it collapsed and was re-built more narrowly. Angle buttressed, plain chamfered bell chamber lights with wood tracery. Embattled parapet with simple finials. South wall largely of 1874, infilling a former south arcade of the C14. The windows are in a perpendicular style. South door and porch also Victorian. 2 profiles of early roof structures visible against tower wall. Chancel has 3 light window, Victorian in decorated style. Renewed 3 light perpendicular window in north wall, blocked square headed opening and doorway with hollow and roll moulded architrave. Inside, the west tower arch is early C13: narrow and double chamfered, the inner thick chamfer is carried on heavy corbel heads. Blocked south arcade of 3 bays is late C13 or early C14, double chamfered with stops and octagonal shafts and abaci. The north arcade however is C12: low round shafts have projecting abaci and stepped segmental arches. The eastern bay cuts the remains of an earlier round headed window with voussoirs, the sole visible evidence for the early dating of the church. Nave roof is largely Victorian but using medieval tie beams. Eastern-most bay alongside the chancel is a later construction, probably C14, with double chamfered arch and semi-octagonal respond. Possible C17 communion table and C18 alter rails. Various C15 embossed patterned tiles in the north aisle. Glass in the style of Kempe in east window, 1896 depicting Saints Bartholomew and Philip with Christ. Monuments in the north aisle: on the east wall a memorial stone in a broken pediment, black, yellow and white marble, with urn commemorates Charles Skrymsher Boothby d. 1774, the panegyric dedicated by his widow Anne, who is also interred below. Against the north wall, Henry Fawnt Esq., and Elizabeth who was his third wife. The two recumbent effigies lie on a tomb chest beneath a aedicule where red faced putti pull back curtains. The effigies are loosely shrouded. The carving is crude but exuberant and painted. Inscription behind the figures records the children of all Henry’s marriages with their deaths, marriages and issue. Font is probably C12 or C13. Round basin on central shaft with four squared outer legs.