Churches of the British Isles

Around 1330 north and south aisles were added to the nave to create a wide, spacious interior. Unusually, a second south aisle was added to the first in the fifteenth century, making the interior almost as broad as it is long. When the second south aisle was built the south door was moved and inserted in the new aisle. The church's most intriguing historic feature is in the chancel, with half the north wall being taken up by an elaborate 1400s tomb in Perpendicular style.

Yelvertoft Reading Room is on the north side of the High Street, about twenty metres west of the junction with Crick Bridle Road. The building was originally constructed in 1792 as a charity school building for an already-existent school that had been established in 1711. It is now used for local events and groups by the parish council. It also serves as a reading room which, although usually associated with Methodist work, are sometimes attached to Anglican chapels too.

Yelvertoft Independent Chapel (Congregational) stands on the south side of the High Street, about twenty-five metres east of the Elkington Lane junction. Nonconformism has had a home in the village since 1662, although the present building is clearly more recent. Known locally as 'The Chapel', it is shown on the OS 25-inch map (1892-1914) as 'Independent' but was later renamed Yelvertoft Congregational Church until a very recent return to the original name.

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Yelvertoft, is at the south-west corner of the High Street and Crick Road. This small wooden building was constructed in the 1950s on land that was donated by a parishioner. Prior to that services had been held at Stanford Hall since at least the years of the Second World War. It survived local floods of 1999 to continue serving its congregation from at least ten nearby villages. Seating capacity is up to seventy-five.

West Haddon Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, stood at the south-west corner of Guilsborough Road and Old Forge Drive, set back from the former so that it lay partially behind surviving buildings there. It was built 'during the course of the nineteenth century' behind the house of a former farmer and his descendants. It is shown on the OS 25-inch map of 1892-1914 but is entirely absent by the 1937-1961. Since demolished, its replacement is known as 'Wesleyan Cottage'.

Five photos on this page kindly contributed by Ian Rob / 'Saxon Sky' via the 'History Files: Churches of the British Isles' Flickr group.