Apethorpe
| Apethorpe | |
| Northamptonshire | |
|---|---|
 Manor House gardens, Apethorpe | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL023957 |
| Location: | 52°32’59"N, 0°29’29"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 160 (2011) |
| Post town: | Peterborough |
| Postcode: | PE8 |
| Dialling code: | 01780 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | North Northamptonshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Corby |
Apethorpe (pronounced "Ap-thorp") is a village in Northamptonshire, eleven miles west of the county's only city, Peterborough and six miles north of Oundle. The 2011 Census recorded a population of 160.
The manor of Apethorpe is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Patorp.
The village is compact, uniform and centred on Main Street. In the late 15th century the manor of Apethorpe was acquired by Sir Guy Wolston, an officer in the household of King Edward IV, who began the construction of the surviving Apethorpe Palace.
The villages name means 'Api's outlying farm/settlement'.[1]
Church
The parish church, St Leonard's, is mostly of the Perpendicular Gothic style, but has a chapel of 1621,[2] and a tower partly of 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, a 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 and was knighted in 1596 when he was appointed ambassador to Henry IV of France.
About the village
The Willow Brook bounds the eastern edge of the village, which contains a Grade I listed historical monument, Apethorpe Palace, owned by the Baron von Pfetten since 2014.
In 1904 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.[3] The Pub is now owned by Baron Von Pfetten and operates under the name of "Willow and Brook" opened by lease holders James and Suzanne Millar.
There are stocks and a whipping post just west of the church.
The dovecote on the palace ground is 18th century listed as Scheduled Monument. Pevsner also mentioned Blue Field Farm half a mile to the north-east as having an interesting barn with a cross-cartway through it.[2]
Roman villa
The remains of the villa lie about 500 yards south-east of the palace and were excavated in 1859.[2] A courtyard of about 230 by 240 feet contained the main buildings. The main block on the north side had hypocausts and fine geometric mosaics with two other wings and a bath block. Slate from Collyweston was used for the roofs. Pottery found included terra sigillata and Castor ware. Coins located the main period of use as the 4th century AD.[2] There was a well in the centre of the courtyard. Two small un-inscribed house-altars were found. One coin of Septimius 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 Ickleton. The villa combines a dwelling house with an aisled house.[4]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Apethorpe) |
- Apethorpe in the Domesday Book
References
- ↑ Place-Names
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, 1961; 1973 Penguin Books ISBN 978-0-300-09632-3
- ↑ www.kingsheadapethorpe.co.uk - About The Kings Head Template:Webarchive - About The Kings Head
- ↑ On-line archaeology Template:Webarchive, retrieved 1 January 2010
