When the church was reconstructed of stone the chancel floor was removed, and the lower “choir” was converted into the present crypt by the introduction of a vaulted stone roof, which is supported by four spirally-wreathed pillars, five feet apart, five feet six inches high, eight square responds, slightly fluted, of the same height and distance apart, all with capitals, with square abaci, which are chamfered off below.
As the responds are not bonded into the walls of the crypt, the question has been asked if the walls might have pertained to the abbey, and formed the mausoleum referred to on previous page.
Round the four walls is a double string-course; below which the walls are ashlar, remarkably smooth. The vaulted roof springs from the upper string-course; the ribs are square in section, one foot wide, no diagonal groins. The whole roof is covered with plaster; traces of red colour wash can be seen on the capitals and roof.
There were square recesses on the east, north, and south sides, projecting two feet two inches from the face of the walls, six feet two inches wide, with openings in them two feet wide, used as windows. These recesses were capped with triangular shaped roofs, which served the double purpose of protecting them, and also formed buttresses for the walls. Similar triangular roofs are to be seen at Barnack and Brigstock.
Repton Church: Saxon Crypt.
In the west wall there is also a recess, formed by an arch; in this recess there is a smaller triangular-shaped opening, about 18 inches high. Many suggestions have been made as to its use: (1) it was a “holy hole” for the reception of relics; (2) an opening in which a lamp, let down from the chancel above, could be kept lit; (3) “a hagioscope,” through which the crypt and its contents could be seen from the nave of the church. Two passages led from the western angles of the crypt to the church above.
In the December, 1896, number of the Archæological Journal there is an article by Mr. Micklethwaite in which he refers to the fact that the crypts at Brixworth, Repton, and Wing are alike in one respect—they each have recesses, which he calls “arcosolia,” or arched chambers, intended to receive tombs. At Repton and Wing there are three; at Brixworth, two. Repton and Wing extend two feet two inches from the face of the walls; those at Brixworth are in the thickness of the walls. In the year 1898 I excavated the earth on the south side, and found the foundations as before given; under a slab in the recess, a skeleton was found. The recess on the east side was destroyed when a flight of stone steps was made leading down into the crypt. Six of these steps are still in situ. The recess on the north side was destroyed, and replaced by an outer stone staircase, with holy water stoup in the wall, and a thirteenth century door.
All the various styles of architecture are to be seen included in the walls of Repton church. Saxon or Norman in the chancel, crypt, walls, and foundations of the present nave as far as the second pillars. During the year 1854 the Saxon pillars and arches of the church were removed for the sake of uniformity! The pillars are preserved in the south porch.
During the last restoration of 1885–6, the foundations of this part of the church, and those of the Early English period, were laid bare.