Hunsbury
Encyclopedia
West Hunsbury is a large housing estate in the south of the town of Northampton
, 2 miles (3 km) from the town centre, 1 miles (2 km) from the M1 motorway, junction 15A and 2 miles (3 km) from junction 15. The motorway can be seen and heard as most of the area is elevated and the wind's prevailing direction is westerly. It is part of the Hunsbury residential area, which also constitutes East Hunsbury
east of Towcester
Road. "Shelfleys" is the original name for the area and still appears on signs and maps. The area is part of the Borough of Northampton. The area was developed in the 1980s and 1990s as part of the expansion of Northampton.
shows a population of 7,468 of which 3,727 were male and 3,741 female, in 3,005 households. However, note that this data applies to the West Hunsbury ward of Northampton Borough Council which includes areas outside of West Hunsbury proper, as the areas are not parished - see the notes on Governance below.
, and shops including a small supermarket, estate agents, post office, pharmacy, optician and a pub, "The Ironstone", in Hunsbury Hill Road. On the same site there is also a health centre. In the car park for the Hunsbury Hill Country Park there is now a small cafe called "The Drover's Return" named after the ancient Drover's Pathway which leads through the park
Opposite the shop area is an area of sheltered housing grouped around a small community centre used for social events and meetings.
The area shares many facilities with East Hunsbury especially at the junction of the old Towcester road and Mereway ring road
including a large Tesco
'Extra' supermarket open 24 hours, except Sunday, 10.00-16.00, petrol station, Subway restaurant
, estate agent, a licensed Indian restaurant, take-away and bar, and dry cleaners. There is also the Danes Camp Leisure centre and swimming pool. Collingtree Park
Golf Course
is in Windingbrooke Lane and accessible from Rowtree Road in East Hunsbury.
The Hunsbury Hill Centre is a collection of old farm buildings built about 1770 overlooking the River Nene
valley to the north. The main farmhouse is a grade II listed building. The centre is for community use and has three separate function rooms surrounding an octagonal courtyard which can host a variety of events. The main hall seats up to 120 and there is ample free parking in the pleasant and peaceful grounds. The centre is owned by Northamptonshire
ACRE
, "Action with Communities in Rural England
" an independent charitable organisation, working with rural communities in Northamptonshire. Income generated from the centre goes to support the charity's running costs.
hill fort
, dating from ca. 400BC, the area is now part of Hunsbury Hill
Country Park. The area around was also extensively mined for ironstone
between 1880 and 1921 and a section of the railway used to transport the material remains in use for demonstration purposes together with a museum. Another park at the bottom of the hill near the motorway separates the housing development from The Counties Crematorium.
The area is in the catchment of Abbeyfield Secondary School
located on the north side of Mere Way dual carriageway which is also a business and enterprise college. The school was previously Mereway Upper School and, prior to 2008, Mereway Performing Arts College.
Several village schools south of the town are popular including the primary schools at Milton Malsor
, Gayton
, Rothersthorpe
, Blisworth
and Collingtree
. Many children of secondary age use Campion School
in Bugbrooke
and Caroline Chisholm School
in nearby Wootton
.
. However, note that the ward also includes housing estates outside of West Hunsbury proper, namely Camp Hill, Hunsbury Meadows, Upton Parish (includes St Crispins Estate and other areas south of Berrywood Road such as Camelot Way ) and a small part of East Hunsbury.
From the 2011 borough elections, the ward changes to become a single member ward for just West Hunsbury and Camp Hill, most of the remaining area moving to the two-member Upton
ward.
The parliamentary seat was part of Northampton South, Conservative
, became part of the new seat of South Northamptonshire from the 2010 General Election, also considered a 'safe' Conservative seat.
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...
, 2 miles (3 km) from the town centre, 1 miles (2 km) from the M1 motorway, junction 15A and 2 miles (3 km) from junction 15. The motorway can be seen and heard as most of the area is elevated and the wind's prevailing direction is westerly. It is part of the Hunsbury residential area, which also constitutes East Hunsbury
East Hunsbury
East Hunsbury is a large housing estate in the south of the town of Northampton, England, from the town centre and from the M1 motorway, junction 15. It is part of the Hunsbury residential area, which also constitutes West Hunsbury on the west side of Towcester Road...
east of Towcester
Towcester
Towcester , the Roman town of Lactodorum, is a small town in south Northamptonshire, England.-Etymology:Towcester comes from the Old English Tófe-ceaster. Tófe refers to the River Tove; Bosworth and Toller compare it to the "Scandinavian proper names" Tófi and Tófa...
Road. "Shelfleys" is the original name for the area and still appears on signs and maps. The area is part of the Borough of Northampton. The area was developed in the 1980s and 1990s as part of the expansion of Northampton.
Demographics
The 2001 censusUnited 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....
shows a population of 7,468 of which 3,727 were male and 3,741 female, in 3,005 households. However, note that this data applies to the West Hunsbury ward of Northampton Borough Council which includes areas outside of West Hunsbury proper, as the areas are not parished - see the notes on Governance below.
Community
There is a modern church, St Benedicts, Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, and shops including a small supermarket, estate agents, post office, pharmacy, optician and a pub, "The Ironstone", in Hunsbury Hill Road. On the same site there is also a health centre. In the car park for the Hunsbury Hill Country Park there is now a small cafe called "The Drover's Return" named after the ancient Drover's Pathway which leads through the park
Opposite the shop area is an area of sheltered housing grouped around a small community centre used for social events and meetings.
The area shares many facilities with East Hunsbury especially at the junction of the old Towcester road and Mereway ring road
Ring road
A ring road, orbital motorway, beltway, circumferential highway, or loop highway is a road that encircles a town or city...
including a large Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
'Extra' supermarket open 24 hours, except Sunday, 10.00-16.00, petrol station, Subway restaurant
Subway (restaurant)
Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
, estate agent, a licensed Indian restaurant, take-away and bar, and dry cleaners. There is also the Danes Camp Leisure centre and swimming pool. Collingtree Park
Collingtree Park
Collingtree Park is a district in the Borough of Northampton in the East Midlands of England.-Location:Collingtree Park is located at the extreme south of the urban area, due north of the village of Collingtree, which itself is in the Northampton borough...
Golf Course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
is in Windingbrooke Lane and accessible from Rowtree Road in East Hunsbury.
The Hunsbury Hill Centre is a collection of old farm buildings built about 1770 overlooking 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...
valley to the north. The main farmhouse is a grade II listed building. The centre is for community use and has three separate function rooms surrounding an octagonal courtyard which can host a variety of events. The main hall seats up to 120 and there is ample free parking in the pleasant and peaceful grounds. The centre is owned by 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,...
ACRE
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
, "Action with Communities in Rural England
Action with Communities in Rural England
Action with Communities in Rural England is a charity that acts as the national organisation for thirty-eight Rural Community Councils across England.The Rural Community Councils in East of England are:* Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity...
" an independent charitable organisation, working with rural communities in Northamptonshire. Income generated from the centre goes to support the charity's running costs.
Parks
The site of an Iron AgeIron 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...
hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
, dating from ca. 400BC, the area is now part of Hunsbury Hill
Hunsbury Hill
Hunsbury Hill is an Iron Age hill fort two miles south-west of the centre of the town of Northampton in the county of Northamptonshire.It is probable that defences were built at Hunsbury Hill between the 7th and 4th centuries BC. The deep ditch excavated has survived to the present day...
Country Park. The area around was also extensively mined for ironstone
Ironstone
Ironstone is a sedimentary rock, either deposited directly as a ferruginous sediment or created by chemical repacement, that contains a substantial proportion of an iron compound from which iron either can be or once was smelted commercially. This term is customarily restricted to hard coarsely...
between 1880 and 1921 and a section of the railway used to transport the material remains in use for demonstration purposes together with a museum. Another park at the bottom of the hill near the motorway separates the housing development from The Counties Crematorium.
Schools
There is a primary school in the area: Hunsbury Park Primary School.The area is in the catchment of Abbeyfield Secondary School
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located on the north side of Mere Way dual carriageway which is also a business and enterprise college. The school was previously Mereway Upper School and, prior to 2008, Mereway Performing Arts College.
Several village schools south of the town are popular including the primary schools at Milton Malsor
Milton Malsor
Milton Malsor is a village and civil parish in South Northamptonshire, England. It is south of Northampton, south-east of Birmingham, and north of central London; junction 15 of the M1 motorway is east by road...
, Gayton
Gayton
-Places:* Gayton, Merseyside* Gayton, Norfolk* Gayton, Northamptonshire* Gayton, Staffordshire* Gayton Engine, Lincolnshire* Gayton le Marsh Lincolnshire* Gayton le Wold Lincolnshire* Gayton Thorpe, Norfolk-Other:...
, Rothersthorpe
Rothersthorpe
Rothersthorpe is a small village of medieval origin, in South Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 500 in the 2001 Census. It is from the town of Northampton.-Governance:...
, Blisworth
Blisworth
Blisworth is a village and civil parish in the South Northamptonshire district of Northamptonshire, England. The West Coast Main Line, from London Euston to Manchester and Scotland, runs alongside the village partly hidden and partly on an embankment...
and Collingtree
Collingtree
Collingtree is a village within the Borough of Northampton and a civil parish in Northamptonshire, England.- Location and context :The village is about from Northampton town centre, close to the A45 trunk road which heads east to Wellingborough and Peterborough...
. Many children of secondary age use Campion School
Campion School (Bugbrooke)
The Campion School is a co-educational comprehensive school in Bugbrooke, about from Northampton, England. Founded in 1967, it has been a Language College since September 1997. In 2011, the school became an academy....
in Bugbrooke
Bugbrooke
Bugbrooke is a large village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England, on a ridge overlooking the valley of the River Nene.-Location:It is about south west of Northampton...
and Caroline Chisholm School
Caroline Chisholm School
Caroline Chisholm School is an all-through 4-18 primary and secondary school, in south Northampton, England. It is named after Caroline Chisholm, a 19th century social reformer The principal is Tony Downing.. The school was built in 15 months and cost £25 million. The school added its final year,...
in nearby Wootton
Wootton, Northamptonshire
Wootton, Northamptonshire is a village about south of Northampton town centre and now part of the Northampton Borough Council area.The village is separated from Hardingstone by the Newport Pagnell Road the B526, formerly part of the A50 road...
.
Governance
The area does not have a parish council, unlike East Hunsbury. West Hunsbury originally spanned two Parishes, Hardingstone Parish north of The Green Lane and Wootton Parish to the South and East, but was de-parished in a boundary review during the 1980s. The area is currently part of West Hunsbury Ward of Northampton Borough Council electing two members, currently both Liberal DemocratLiberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
. However, note that the ward also includes housing estates outside of West Hunsbury proper, namely Camp Hill, Hunsbury Meadows, Upton Parish (includes St Crispins Estate and other areas south of Berrywood Road such as Camelot Way ) and a small part of East Hunsbury.
Upton, Northamptonshire
Upton is a civil parish north-east of Kislingbury and south-west of Dallington, in Northamptonshire, England about west of Northampton town centre along the A45 road. Formerly a scattered hamlet, it is now part of the town...
ward.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, became part of the new seat of South Northamptonshire from the 2010 General Election, also considered a 'safe' Conservative seat.