Nether Heyford Short Heritage Walk

(S/E) Head for the village green, Nether Heyford in Northamptonshire. Free on road parking along The Green and near the shop or D3 Northampton - Daventry Bus service with a stop at the Foresters Arms, Latitude/Longitude: 52.220311, -1.034856, National Grid Reference: SP 66030 58450, Easting/Northing: 466030, 258450.

Start at the telephone box on the corner of the village green. This public phone box is a K6 Mark II as designed by George Gilbert-Scott. As with many villages this is now decommissioned but maintained by villagers.

Immediately across the road on Furnace Lane, you will see a hairdresser salon. This was originally the Bakers Arms public house, so called because it contained a small baker’s oven.

From the telephone box head up Furnace Lane, with The Green to your left. Note that this is one of the largest village greens in the country and as a registered green is protected by statute. On your left you’ll see St Crispins, a Grade II listed thatched cottage (1), with many interesting features, not least that it is built on a slope.

A little further up Furnace Lane on the right-hand side is the ‘new bakery’, easily identified by its lovely bay windows and unusual porches. This was established during WWI as the existing bakery on Church Street was not large enough to meet the needs of the military at Weedon barracks. It closed as bakery at the end of WWII, early 19^th century and Grade II listed.

Directly adjoined is Pear Tree Cottage, of similar vintage and until the 1930s was the King William IV public house.

(1) Return down Furnace Lane and turn right at St Crispin’s cottage, across the rear of the green, past the Baptist Church, built in 1826, the Baptist Rooms, built in 1922.

(2) Continue past the village hall and terrace of Victorian cottages to No.17 The Green, The Cottage, an 18^th century cottage with a 19^th century extension, Grade II listed. This would originally have had a thatched roof.

Carry on along the rear of the green, past some more Victorian cottages then turn left down the small road that divides the green. This is Coronation Avenue, named after the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The Acacia trees on either side were planted at that time.

(3) To the right of the crossroads on the other side of the green is the village primary school, founded and endowed in 1674 by William Bliss, a wealthy wine merchant who was born in the village. The current building, facing the green, was opened in 1879 and is Grade II listed.

Directly to the right of the front of the school is Heyford Cottage formerly one of several farmhouses in the village, the village originally being a grouping of farmsteads in the fertile flood plain of the River Nene. The cottage is early 18^th century, Grade II listed, and would originally have been thatched. The original farmyard is now occupied by dwellings.

The old orchard wall to the right of Heyford cottage, with its protective pantile top is made of cob and is also listed.

Coming back across the front of the school turn right down Middle Street. Immediately beyond the boundary of the school on the right-hand side is number 8, The Laurels. The original school masters house was built as an integral part of the school (now privately let), but this property was built as a new detached master’s house. Although not listed it is architecturally very interesting. Now a private dwelling.

Directly adjacent to the Laurels is the Old Sun Public House. Built in the late 17^th Century with later additions, Grade II listed.

Slightly further along Middle Street, on the same side as the Old Sun is the rear elevation of another farmhouse, now divided into two dwellings. Although not listed, at the second storey is the stonemason’s plaque dated 1686. The original farmyard is now occupied by private dwellings.

Proceed further down Middle Street, past Appleford Ben’s Orchard, which as the name suggests was the site of one of many orchards in the village, and cross over into Manor Park. Walk through Manor Park for circa 100 metres and to your left you will see the Manor House. built in 1740, for William the 3^rd Duke of Powis. Between 1789 and 1850 it was the home of successive parish rectors who were all also Lords of the Manor. Note that this is rear view of the property. The east and west wings are later additions to the main house. Once the centre of a substantial estate the remaining land was sold in 1975 for housing. Grade II listed and divided into private dwellings.

(4) As you pass the Manor House to your left turn left along the footpath and through the two pedestrian gates. Immediately after the second gate turn right up the steps and along the walled jitty (passageway) and into the Churchyard (for wheelchair access carry on along Manor Walk and turn right onto Church Street).

(5) The church of St Peter and St Paul was built in the 13^th century and restored in 1878. The main building is Grade II* listed, and in the grounds, there are listed cob walls and a listed burial tomb. The church has a significant history and is usually open to visitors via the north door.

From the north door of the church follow the footpath through the gate and onto the corner of Church Lane, ahead of you and Church Street to your left.

Directly in front of you are the Church Rooms, built in 1905 and well utilised by a variety of village groups and organisations.

Just to the right of the Church Rooms, on Church Lane, is the entrance to Heyford Lodge. The Lodge is just visible from the Lane. Until 1969 this was the rectory. Built in 1851 for the Crawley family, who had a long history with the churches of the local parishes. Gothic Revival style with many interesting architectural features. Grade II listed. This is a private dwelling.

Return towards the church and turn right onto Church Street. You are now entering the oldest part of the village characterised by the age of the properties and the proximity of their frontages to the street.

Directly adjacent to the Church Rooms, end on to the street is an ironstone and limestone banded yeoman’s house dating from the late 17^th century, with later additions, Grade II listed. This was once a public house sitting on what was the main road from Daventry to Northampton, servicing farmers as they drove their animals to market. Also notice the water tap in the wall; once the site of one of the village water pumps.

A little further along Church Street to the rear of the thatched cottage on the right is Ladder Makers Yard. Production of wooden ladders ceased in 1975, but one of the original workshops remain. This is also the site of a cottage built substantively of cob and of significant vintage.

The thatched cottage, number 39 is late 17^th century with later additions, with the room nearest the street once being one of the village shops. If you are lucky doves will be sunning themselves on the thatch. Grade II listed.

Just beyond the entrance to another jitty is number 35. Although not listed this is an unusual and unique three storey brick-built property. Originally three dwellings but currently configured as one. Note the date in the façade brickwork, 1859.

Just further along the street on the right-hand side is number 27. Again, an unusual brick-built property of 19^th century construction with a pentagonal front section. Originally a butcher with slaughterhouse to the rear.

Further down Church Street on the left is number 22 a late 17^th century cottage of coursed limestone. Grade II listed. Originally this would have been thatched.

The next property along is Manor Cottage with its construction date noted as 1743 on the stonemason’s plaque. Built of coursed squared ironstone and again would have been thatched. Grade II listed. Famous for its beautiful Wisteria on the front elevation.

Immediately behind you on the corner of the street is the old or original village bakery. Note the curved corner on the lower storey to enable easier and safer passage for horse and carts. Late 18^th century with 19^th century additions.

From the corner of this building face the opposite side of the street. To the left of another jitty is Cappel cottage named after a local butcher and to the right of the jitty is Ash Tree Cottage. Built by the same stonemason as Manor Cottage of coursed squared ironstone and still retaining its thatch. The stonemason’s plaque facing the road says 1749. Grade II listed.

Continue along Church Street back towards the village green.

On your left at the front of number 10 is what looks like and old garage but in fact was the village blacksmiths and the next property along, directly abutting the street was another village shop. Note the detail of the original Victorian window.

Adjacent to this is the Methodist Church, built in 1879 and the second Methodist place of worship to be built in the village. Now a private dwelling.

Just across the street from the Methodist Church is ‘Tandy’s Place’ ; a coursed squared limestone house, mid-18^th Century and Grade II listed. To the rear of the property was once a tannery, related to the slaughterhouse at number 27 Church Street.

Continuing that side of the street and just past another jittty is New Schoolhouse, built as a replacement for The Laurels on Middle Street and now also a private dwelling. Directly adjacent to this is The Springs, a substantive late 17^th century house of coursed squared ironstone, with later additions, and still proudly bearing its thatched roof. Grade II listed

The wall of The Springs directly facing the war memorial is the remains of what was the Jubilee Hall, a building of significant vintage, probably built as a barn in the 17^th century, that was used by parishioners for social and educational purposes, the former being famous for the Pussyfoot Club.

Head across the memorial green behind you and note the following: the village sign (see if you can find the mouse), the war memorial commemorating those villagers who gave their lives in World War I and World War II, and the substantive oak tree that was planted to commemorate the coronation of George V in 1935.

Then continue towards the village general store adjacent to which is a small brick cottage. This was the original Methodist Chapel in the village, built in 1838. This became a domestic dwelling when the larger Methodist Church was built further along Church Street.

Finally, cross over the road to the telephone box and you are back where you started (S/E).