Grafton Regis
Encyclopedia
Grafton Regis is a village and civil parish in the south of the English
county of Northamptonshire
. The village is east of the A508 road
, on which it has a short frontage and two bus stops. It is ca. 8 miles (13 km) south of Northampton
and 9 miles (14 km) north of Milton Keynes
.
. It was the birthplace of Queen of England as Consort
to Edward IV, Elizabeth Woodville
. Elizabeth was born at Woodville Manor in the village hence the suffix "Regis" (meaning of the King).
which flows east between the village and Stoke Bruerne
to the north and then to the east of the village. Stoke Bruerne church and Stoke Park Pavilions
are clearly visible in the distance. The Grand Union Canal
passes close by to the east.
Almost all the village on the east side of the A508 is a conservation area
.
origin with a cloister and small church. They were converted to secular us in the 15th century. Tiles with the Woodville family arms were discovered in the church.
Another Manor House is on the east side of the A508 road near the parish church. It is the remains of a house built by Henry VIII.
The Parish Church
is dedicated to St Mary and of early 13th century origin.
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...
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,...
. The village is east of the A508 road
A508 road
The A508 is a short A-class road for north/south journeys in south central England, forming the route from Market Harborough in Leicestershire, via Northampton, to Old Stratford, north-west of Milton Keynes....
, on which it has a short frontage and two bus stops. It is ca. 8 miles (13 km) south 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...
and 9 miles (14 km) north of Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
.
History
Historically it formed part of the Honour of GraftonHonour of Grafton
The Honour of Grafton is a collection of manors in the south east of Northamptonshire, England. The Honour is historic, dating back at least as far as 1542 when a bill for its management was before parliament....
. It was the birthplace of Queen of England as Consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
to Edward IV, Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville was Queen consort of England as the spouse of King Edward IV from 1464 until his death in 1483. Elizabeth was a key figure in the series of dynastic civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Her first husband, Sir John Grey of Groby was killed at the Second Battle of St Albans...
. Elizabeth was born at Woodville Manor in the village hence the suffix "Regis" (meaning of the King).
Geography
The village extends back some distance from the road, albeit at a very low density, towards a church at the eastern edge of the village. Grafton is on the southern ridge of the valley of the River ToveRiver Tove
The River Tove is a river in England, a tributary of the River Great Ouse. Rising in Northamptonshire, it flows for around 15 miles past the town of Towcester before meeting the Ouse near Milton Keynes. Its final 5 miles form part of the border between Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, running...
which flows east between the village and Stoke Bruerne
Stoke Bruerne
Stoke Bruerne is a small village and civil parish in South Northamptonshire, England about north of Milton Keynes and south of Northampton.-History:...
to the north and then to the east of the village. Stoke Bruerne church and Stoke Park Pavilions
Stoke Park Pavilions
Stoke Park Pavilions are all that remain of the stately house and grounds of Stoke Park near the village of Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire, England, approximately south of Northampton and north of Milton Keynes.- Stoke Park :...
are clearly visible in the distance. The Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
passes close by to the east.
Almost all the village on the east side of the A508 is a conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
.
Buildings
Woodville Manor House appears to have stood on the west side of the A508 road according to excavation in 1964-5. These revealed a medieval of monasticMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
origin with a cloister and small church. They were converted to secular us in the 15th century. Tiles with the Woodville family arms were discovered in the church.
Another Manor House is on the east side of the A508 road near the parish church. It is the remains of a house built by Henry VIII.
The Parish Church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
is dedicated to St Mary and of early 13th century origin.