Fieldtrip 4: The Nene Valley - Pilton, Lilford, Thorpe Achuch, Oundle and Titchmarsh

The project team visited the Nene valley in Northamptonshire on Tuesday, 21 October 2008. We began our observations at Pilton, a small parish within sight and influence of Lilford Hall. Here the manor house was used as the rectory from 1715 when Lord Lilford's great-grandfather bought the estate, and the neighbouring 13^th-century church dedicated to St Mary and All Saints was later restored by Lord Lilford's agent (in 1874-5). The manor house and church form a picturesque scene, isolated as they are from the modern village. Impressive earthworks and parchmarks are visible to the south of the church and manor house, and the team spent some time considering the likely chronology of settlement shift since medieval times.

Crossing the River Nene from Pilton, the team drove through Lilford parish en route to Thorpe Achurch. Lilford is a fantastic example of 'brutal' aristocratic enclosure. In the early 1740s, Lilford was a small village of 12 houses, a church, a vicarage and a mill, all lying on the banks of the river Nene close to the mansion. Yet less than 40 years later, the village and the church had disappeared, the open fields having been enclosed and the Hall stood isolated within a wooded park. Excellent estate records make this parish a significant one for our study.

After depopulating Lilford village, Lord Lilford rebuilt the remains of St Peter's church as a folly near Thorpe Achurch. While here, the team looked at the 19^th-century estate cottage and the 13^th-century church of St John the Baptist. Glorious weather enabled a walk down to the Nene, where we could consider the impact this river had on the management of this landscape, both historical and contemporary.

Lunch at the ancient market town of Oundle was followed by a walk around the Georgian town and a trip to St Peters church. Another 13^th-century church restored in the later 19^th century, St Peter's is visible for miles around thanks to its 210ft tower and octagonal spire, the tallest in Northamptonshire. The team ended the day at Titchmarsh, another parish in which Lord Lilford owned land. Here the 15^th-century church tower looks out over another enclosed landscape of the 1770s. Parliamentary enclosure took place at Titchmarsh in 1778, just five years after Lilford had enclosed the neighbouring parishes of Lilford, Thorpe Achurch and Aldwinkle.  

By SW and BMcD.

Fieldtrip 5: Western Northamptonshire

On the 7th July 2009 the team visited areas in the west of the county including Charwelton, Eydon and Sulgrave.

Fieldtrip 6: Central Northamptonshire