Cogenhoe
Encyclopedia
Cogenhoe (ˈkʊknoʊ)is a village in South Northamptonshire
, England. The civil parish of Cogenhoe and Whiston
had a population at the 2001 census
of 1,439 (the 2010 estimated population is 1,523 - Cogenhoe 1,312; Whiston 211).
The village of Cogenhoe overlooks the valley of the River Nene
and is some five miles (8 km) east of the county town, Northampton
. Cogenhoe is situated on high ground overlooking the Nene Valley
. It has grown into a large village with varied amenities including football, cricket and bowls clubs.
period, a corn-drying kiln was built in the centre of the village and a villa estate developed out of an Iron Age
settlement.
The Saxons lived to the west of St Peter's church and it was they who would have built its predecessor, probably from timber. After the Norman Conquest, the village was moved on to the steep slope where it remained until development took place along Church Street, probably in the 16th or 17th centuries. Station Road (the main road running through the village) began to evolve with the construction of houses built from bricks made in the Cogenhoe brickyard in the 19th century.
More recently (20th century), acres of orchard
s and open fields were replaced by housing; this is now known as Orchard Way, Glebe Road and St Peters Way.
From the mid-19th to the mid 20th centuries the village became dominated by the manufacture of boots and shoes. During the 1950s, the major employer was a local coach firm, York brothers. Cogenhoe is now largely a commuter village with most people working in Northampton
or further afield due to its road links with the A45
and M1 motorway
.
presenter Peter Purves
lived for a number of years at the Old Rectory
South Northamptonshire
South Northamptonshire is a local government district in Northamptonshire, England. Its council is based in Towcester.The district is rural and sparsely populated with just over 79,293 people in 2000 and 91,000 in 2008, a 14.8% increase. The largest town in the district is Brackley, which has a...
, England. The civil parish of Cogenhoe and Whiston
Whiston, Northamptonshire
Whiston is a village in the English county of Northamptonshire four miles due east of the county town of Northampton. It is in the civil parish of Cogenhoe and Whiston.-External links:*...
had a population at 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....
of 1,439 (the 2010 estimated population is 1,523 - Cogenhoe 1,312; Whiston 211).
The village of Cogenhoe overlooks the valley of the River Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
and is some five miles (8 km) east of the county town, Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
. Cogenhoe is situated on high ground overlooking the Nene Valley
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
. It has grown into a large village with varied amenities including football, cricket and bowls clubs.
History
People are believed to have lived at Cogenhoe for at least 4,000 years, one of the early settlements lying to the east of the village. Later on the Celts lived there. In the RomanRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
period, a corn-drying kiln was built in the centre of the village and a villa estate developed out of an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
settlement.
The Saxons lived to the west of St Peter's church and it was they who would have built its predecessor, probably from timber. After the Norman Conquest, the village was moved on to the steep slope where it remained until development took place along Church Street, probably in the 16th or 17th centuries. Station Road (the main road running through the village) began to evolve with the construction of houses built from bricks made in the Cogenhoe brickyard in the 19th century.
More recently (20th century), acres of orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s and open fields were replaced by housing; this is now known as Orchard Way, Glebe Road and St Peters Way.
From the mid-19th to the mid 20th centuries the village became dominated by the manufacture of boots and shoes. During the 1950s, the major employer was a local coach firm, York brothers. Cogenhoe is now largely a commuter village with most people working in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
or further afield due to its road links with the A45
A45 road
The A45 is a major road in England. It runs east from Birmingham past the National Exhibition Centre and the M42, then bypasses Coventry and Rugby, where it briefly merges with the M45 until it continues to Daventry...
and M1 motorway
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
.
Sport
Despite Cogenhoe's size it manages to support a number of successful sporting ventures attracting players and members from across Northamptonshire.Cogenhoe United Football Club
Their early days were not documented and are now obscure. Inter-village friendlies gradually led to membership of the now extinct Central Village League. A variety of pitches were used until in 1950 the first game, against Northampton Yeomanry, was played on the then new playing field. United ceased to exist after 1958, and re-formed for the 1967-8 season, competing in the Central Northants Football Combination. By 1978 the club had progressed from the Second Division into the Premier Division. In a six year period thirteen winners' and six runners-up trophies were won. Development of facilities became paramount for promotion into the United Counties Football League. A lease on 3.6 acres (14,568.7 m²) of agricultural land was obtained from the Marquis of Northampton. Compton Park was now on the map and purpose-built facilities were developed with a spectator stand and the team gained promotion into the UCFL for the season 1985-6.Cogenhoe Cricket Club
Cogenhoe Cricket Club is based at Compton Park on the outskirts of the village on the Brafield Road. The club sub-lets the playing area from the football club who in turn lease the field from Compton Estates of Castle Ashby. This has been the club's home since 1998; before this the club has played at Billing Aquadrome, various fields around the village including the village playing field.Cogenhoe Bowls Club
The village also hosts a thriving mixed Club, with approximately 70 members.Notable residents
Former Blue PeterBlue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
presenter Peter Purves
Peter Purves
Peter Purves is an English television presenter and actor.Purves was born in New Longton, near Preston, Lancashire, and was educated at the independent Arnold School in Blackpool, he had originally planned to go into teaching, training at Alsager College of Education, but began to act with the...
lived for a number of years at the Old Rectory