Weston Favell
Encyclopedia
Weston Favell is a former village in the English
town of Northampton
, Northamptonshire
.
and 20th Century, the town of Northampton
has grown closer and closer to the village boundaries, such that it is an outer district of Northampton
, near to several other suburban areas. The village itself has also grown, and now includes, at its edges, several newer developments including Park Way, Graspin Lane, Pyket Way, Edgemont Road and Thorburn Road (often referred to locally as 'Beverley Hills'). Still, the village centre retain a distinct feel, and are clearly marked by the old boundary posts. Its most famous former resident was the late Francis Crick
, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA
.
The parish church (St. Peter's, Weston Favell) lies at the centre of the village, at the intersection of the High Street and Church Way. Late 2007 saw the installation of the new Rector, the Reverend David Kirby. The oldest part of the Church's graveyard, upon which the tombstones have now all but crumbled away, is known at St Peter's Patch and is used by villagers as a free space for games, picnics and summer fetes.
The nearest large park is Abington Park
, which is accessed via the notably long and straight Weston Way, leading from the outskirts of the village to the stone gates to the town of Northampton, and the Abington Estate. Weston Favell is also the home of the Northamptonshire County Lawn Tennis
Club, the Weston Favell Garden Society and the 11th Division of the Northamptonshire Scouts.
of 1086, when there is evidence of the overlordship of Weston Favell being awarded to the Count of Mortain. It subsequently passed through the families of Mundeville and d'Avranches into the possession of the Crevecoeurs, under whom the lord of the manor was then John Fauvelle, hence the name.
The church building as it presently stands can be dated to a similar period. Indeed, the tower is of the late 12th century, of Transitional Norman character, and the chancel belongs mainly to the first half of the 13th century, being a rebuilding at that time of a 12th-century chancel, the priest's doorway of which was retained. This doorway is earlier than the tower and indicates the existence of a mid-12th-century building.
. Further to this is the Weston Favell Shopping Centre, a large facility, built during the early 1970s and opening in 1974.
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...
town of 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...
, 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,...
.
Location
Since the Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
and 20th Century, the town of 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...
has grown closer and closer to the village boundaries, such that it is an outer district of 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...
, near to several other suburban areas. The village itself has also grown, and now includes, at its edges, several newer developments including Park Way, Graspin Lane, Pyket Way, Edgemont Road and Thorburn Road (often referred to locally as 'Beverley Hills'). Still, the village centre retain a distinct feel, and are clearly marked by the old boundary posts. Its most famous former resident was the late Francis Crick
Francis Crick
Francis Harry Compton Crick OM FRS was an English molecular biologist, biophysicist, and neuroscientist, and most noted for being one of two co-discoverers of the structure of the DNA molecule in 1953, together with James D. Watson...
, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
.
Inside the Village
Although Weston Favell's main street (the High Street) was populated by various shops in former years, it is now reduced to a single one. The Weston Favell General Stores lost its Post Office as part of the national scheme of closures in early 2008, despite protest by local residents. Other local amenities include two public houses (the Bold Dragoon and the Trumpet), and a primary school. The school recently moved into new, larger premises, outside the village boundary. The new school was designed by the local architect Maurice Walton, whose work also includes the Northampton Guildhall extension.The parish church (St. Peter's, Weston Favell) lies at the centre of the village, at the intersection of the High Street and Church Way. Late 2007 saw the installation of the new Rector, the Reverend David Kirby. The oldest part of the Church's graveyard, upon which the tombstones have now all but crumbled away, is known at St Peter's Patch and is used by villagers as a free space for games, picnics and summer fetes.
The nearest large park is Abington Park
Abington Park
Abington Park, in the Abington district of Northampton, has lakes, aviaries, and a museum, as well as trees and grassy open spaces.The park contains the ruins of the former village of Abington, the site of a medieval manorhouse with a mill attached, mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086...
, which is accessed via the notably long and straight Weston Way, leading from the outskirts of the village to the stone gates to the town of Northampton, and the Abington Estate. Weston Favell is also the home of the Northamptonshire County Lawn Tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
Club, the Weston Favell Garden Society and the 11th Division of the Northamptonshire Scouts.
History
Known formerly as Westone (xi cent.) and then Weston Fauvelle (xiii cent.), Weston Favell, although likely much older, can trace itself with evidentiary certainly as far back as the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086, when there is evidence of the overlordship of Weston Favell being awarded to the Count of Mortain. It subsequently passed through the families of Mundeville and d'Avranches into the possession of the Crevecoeurs, under whom the lord of the manor was then John Fauvelle, hence the name.
The church building as it presently stands can be dated to a similar period. Indeed, the tower is of the late 12th century, of Transitional Norman character, and the chancel belongs mainly to the first half of the 13th century, being a rebuilding at that time of a 12th-century chancel, the priest's doorway of which was retained. This doorway is earlier than the tower and indicates the existence of a mid-12th-century building.
Extended Weston Favell
Some institutions in the suburbs at the edge of Northampton have adopted the name 'Weston Favell' despite in fact being many miles from the village boundaries, these include a secondary school called Weston Favell SchoolWeston Favell School
Weston Favell School, soon to be called Weston Favell Academy, is a secondary school in Weston Favell, Northampton with specialist status as a Technology College. It is due to be turned into an academy by Northamptonshire County Council, who have announced now defunct plans to close the school and...
. Further to this is the Weston Favell Shopping Centre, a large facility, built during the early 1970s and opening in 1974.