Maidford is a civil and eccesiastical parish in South Northamptonshire

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...

 and the diocese of Peterborough

Peterborough

Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...

 situated about 6 miles (9.7 km) north-west 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...

. The population is 179. It was a centre of local 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,...

 lace

Lace

Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...

-making until the early 20th century.

Buildings

The 13th-century parish church is dedicated to St Peter and St Paul

Paul of Tarsus

Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...

, and forms the centre of a monastic complex used as an hospitalium by the nearby Abbey

Abbey

An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...

 at Canons Ashby

Canons Ashby

Canons Ashby is a small village and civil parish in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire, England.Its most notable building is Canons Ashby House, a National Trust property. The parish church is a surviving fragment of Canons Ashby Priory.It is situated one mile from Moreton...

. Since 2006 the parish has been part of the Lambfold Benefice

Benefice

A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...

 along with the parishes of Blakesley

Blakesley

Blakesley is a village and civil parish in the South Northamptonshire district of Northamptonshire, England. It is about = west of Towcester. It is about above sea level according to Ordnance Survey...

, Adstone

Adstone

Adstone is a village in Northamptonshire, England. It is known as Atenestone in the Domesday Book.-Notable buildings:The Parish church, dedicated to All Saints is of Norman origin, ca.13th century. It was heavily restored in both 1843, when the chancel was added and again in 1896...

, Farthingstone

Farthingstone

Farthingstone is a village in the district of Daventry in the county of Northamptonshire in England. It is close to the major trunk routes of the M1 junction 16, M40 motorway, and A5 road, in secluded location at the head of a picturesque valley....

 and Litchborough

Litchborough

Litchborough is a village and civil parish in South Northamptonshire, England. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 300 people. It is about north-west of Towcester....

.

Notable residents

Its most notorious inhabitant was the pirate Thomas Tew

Thomas Tew

Thomas Tew , also known as the Rhode Island Pirate, was a 17th century English privateer-turned-pirate. Although he embarked on only two major piratical voyages, and met a bloody death on the latter journey, Tew pioneered the route which became known as the Pirate Round. Many other famous pirates,...

, who was more than likely born in the village in the early 17th century

External links

• Maidford Village website