Apethorpe
Encyclopedia
Apethorpe is a village and civil parish
in East Northamptonshire
district of the shire county of Northamptonshire
, England
. The 2001 census
records a population of 133.
Apethorpe was recorded in the Domesday Book as Patorp. The village is compact, uniform and centred around Main Street. In the late 15th Century Apethorpe was acquired by Sir Guy Wolston, an officer in the household of Edward IV, who began the construction of the present Apethorpe Hall.
of Oundle
, 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Corby
, and 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Peterborough
. The nearest railway stations are in Kettering
for London St Pancras and Peterborough for London King's Cross. London is about 75 miles (121 km) via the A1 road.
is dedicated to St Leonard and is mostly Perpendicular but has a chapel of 1621 and tower partly 1633. There is a huge monument to Sir Anthony Mildmay
(d.11 September 1617) and another smaller one to Sir Richard Dalton (d.1442). Mildmay was the eldest son of Sir Walter Mildmay
, an English statesman who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer of England under Queen Elizabeth I
and also founded Emmanuel College, Cambridge
. Sir Anthony inherited the family estate of Apethorpe and was knighted in 1596 when he was appointed ambassador to Henry IV of France
.
bounds the eastern edge of the village, which contains Apethorpe Hall
qv.
and Whipping Post just west of the church. An agent's House south of the church and the Dovecote
north of the Hall are both 17th century. Pevsner also mentioned Blue Fieled Farm 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) northeast as having an interesting barn with a cross-cartway through it.
s and fine geometric mosaic
s with two other wings and a bath block. Slate from Collyweston
was used for the roofs. Pottery found included terra sigillata
and castorware. Coins located the main period of use as the 4th century AD. There was a well in the centre of the courtyard. Two small un-inscribed house-altar
s were found. One coin of Septimus Severus, the remainder Constantinian (?), possibly indicating the date of the main phase of the villa. In successive phases of building there appears to have been at least one aisled building in the same position relative to a winged corridor house at Ikleton. The villa combines a dwelling house with an aisled house.
, known for his roles in Mr. Bean
and the Blackadder
series.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in East Northamptonshire
East Northamptonshire
East Northamptonshire is a local government district in Northamptonshire, England. Its council is based in Thrapston and Rushden, which is the largest town in the area...
district of the shire county of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
records a population of 133.
Apethorpe was recorded in the Domesday Book as Patorp. The village is compact, uniform and centred around Main Street. In the late 15th Century Apethorpe was acquired by Sir Guy Wolston, an officer in the household of Edward IV, who began the construction of the present Apethorpe Hall.
Location
The village is 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the Northamptonshire market townMarket town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
of Oundle
Oundle
Oundle is an ancient market town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 5,345 or 5,674 . It lies some north of London and south-west of Peterborough...
, 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Corby
Corby
Corby Town is a town and borough located in the county of Northamptonshire. Corby Town is 23 miles north-east of the county town, Northampton. The borough had a population of 53,174 at the 2001 Census; the town on its own accounted for 49,222 of this figure...
, and 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
. The nearest railway stations are in Kettering
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
for London St Pancras and Peterborough for London King's Cross. London is about 75 miles (121 km) via the A1 road.
Church
Apethorpe parish churchSt Leonard's Church, Apethorpe
St Leonard's Church is an Anglican church in the village of Apethorpe in Northamptonshire, England. It is an active parish church in the Diocese of Peterborough. It has been designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage.-History:...
is dedicated to St Leonard and is mostly Perpendicular but has a chapel of 1621 and tower partly 1633. There is a huge monument to Sir Anthony Mildmay
Mildmay
Mildmay may refer to:Places*Mildmay, a settlement in Islington, Greater London and Mildmay Park railway station, therein.*Mildmay, Ontario and its hockey team, the Mildmay MonarchsPeople*Sir Anthony Mildmay, d.1617*Sir Henry Mildmay MP...
(d.11 September 1617) and another smaller one to Sir Richard Dalton (d.1442). Mildmay was the eldest son of Sir Walter Mildmay
Walter Mildmay
Sir Walter Mildmay was an English statesman who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer of England under Queen Elizabeth I, and was founder of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.-Early life:...
, an English statesman who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer of England under Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
and also founded Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
. Sir Anthony inherited the family estate of Apethorpe and was knighted in 1596 when he was appointed ambassador to Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
.
Apethorpe Hall
The Willow BrookWillow Brook
The Willow Brook is a tributary of the River Nene. Its entire course is in the English county of Northamptonshire.The Willow Brook rises north of Corby where, until 1980, water was extracted for use in that town's steelworks. It then flows through or near Deene, Bulwick, Blatherwycke, King's Cliffe...
bounds the eastern edge of the village, which contains Apethorpe Hall
Apethorpe Hall
Apethorpe Hall in Apethorpe, Northamptonshire, England is a Grade I listed country house, dating back to the 15th century.The house is built around three courtyards lying on an east-west axis and is approximately by in area...
qv.
The Kings Head
In 1904 Mr Leonard Brassey made many alterations to the village, a number of cottages were built and the old Westmorland Arms was replaced by a new public house, The King's Head.Other structures
There is a StocksStocks
Stocks are devices used in the medieval and colonial American times as a form of physical punishment involving public humiliation. The stocks partially immobilized its victims and they were often exposed in a public place such as the site of a market to the scorn of those who passed by...
and Whipping Post just west of the church. An agent's House south of the church and the Dovecote
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
north of the Hall are both 17th century. Pevsner also mentioned Blue Fieled Farm 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) northeast as having an interesting barn with a cross-cartway through it.
Roman villa
The remains of the villa lie in the Hall grounds about 500 yards (450m) southeast of the Hall and were excavated in 1859. A courtyard of ca.230 by 240 feet contained the main buildings. The main block on the north side had hypocaustHypocaust
A hypocaust was an ancient Roman system of underfloor heating, used to heat houses with hot air. The word derives from the Ancient Greek hypo meaning "under" and caust-, meaning "burnt"...
s and fine geometric mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
s with two other wings and a bath block. Slate from Collyweston
Collyweston
Collyweston is a village and civil parish about three miles south-west of Stamford on the road to Kettering.-Geography:The village is on the southern side of the Welland valley of Tixover. The River Welland, at the point nearby to the north-west, is the boundary between Rutland and...
was used for the roofs. Pottery found included terra sigillata
Terra sigillata
Terra sigillata is a term with at least three distinct meanings: as a description of medieval medicinal earth; in archaeology, as a general term for some of the fine red Ancient Roman pottery with glossy surface slips made in specific areas of the Roman Empire; and more recently, as a description...
and castorware. Coins located the main period of use as the 4th century AD. There was a well in the centre of the courtyard. Two small un-inscribed house-altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
s were found. One coin of Septimus Severus, the remainder Constantinian (?), possibly indicating the date of the main phase of the villa. In successive phases of building there appears to have been at least one aisled building in the same position relative to a winged corridor house at Ikleton. The villa combines a dwelling house with an aisled house.
Notable residents
The village is currently home to the actor Rowan AtkinsonRowan Atkinson
Rowan Sebastian Atkinson is a British actor, comedian, and screenwriter. He is most famous for his work on the satirical sketch comedy show Not The Nine O'Clock News, and the sitcoms Blackadder, Mr. Bean and The Thin Blue Line...
, known for his roles in Mr. Bean
Mr. Bean
Mr. Bean is a British comedy television programme series of 14 half-hour episodes written by and starring Rowan Atkinson as the title character. Different episodes were also written by Robin Driscoll, Richard Curtis and one by Ben Elton. The pilot episode was broadcast on ITV on 1 January 1990,...
and the Blackadder
Blackadder
Blackadder is the name that encompassed four series of a BBC1 historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments. All television programme episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick...
series.