Welton, Northamptonshire
Encyclopedia
Welton is a village and civil parish
in the English county of Northamptonshire
. The village is located 2.6 miles (4.2 km) north of the nearest town Daventry
. It is 15 miles (24.1 km) west-northwest of Northampton
, 9 miles (14.5 km) south east of Rugby
and 79.2 miles (127.5 km) north-west of London. The village is 1 miles (1.6 km) of the A361
that runs between Daventry and Crick where the M1
junction 18 gives access to the national motorway network north and south. The nearest railway station is at Long Buckby
for the London Midland
services to Birmingham New Street and Northampton
, on the Northampton loop of the West Coast Main Line
. For inter-city services (Virgin Trains
), passengers should change at Rugby
, the next station westbound. The Village and parish of Welton had in the 2001 census
, a population of 634. For the purposes of local government, the village falls within the district
of Daventry
.
. The village is located in the centre of the parish with a large portion of the village sitting on the south east slope of Crockwell hill, one of the many low range hills which Characterise this part of the Northamptonshire Uplands. To the north the parish is bounded with the parish of Ashby St Ledgers
. To the east the boundary is marked with the route of the A5
Watling Street
, the name given to an ancient trackway
in England and Wales
that was first used by the Celts, and later improved and paved by the Romans
. To the east of this highway is the parish of Long Buckby
. To the south lies the parishes of Daventry
and Norton
, whilst to the west is the parish of Braunston
. The southern boundary is also marked by the course of the Grand Union Canal
which also dissects the eastern boundary for a short looping distance.
of 1085 where its population, land ownership and productive resources were extensively detailed In the survey Welton is recorded by the names of Waletone, Weletone and Welintone. The tenants pre-conquest was Wulfrner from the Count of Mortain
, Osbern from Hugh de Grandmesnil
and Leofric from the Countess Judith
. The survey also list that there was a mill.
roof is visible on the tower. The nave is in the perpendicular style and has four-bay arcades. The nave and aisles sharing a single roof. There are big panelled aisle windows which provide plenty of light in this church. The chancel
is also perpendicular, with a vestry
to the north in the angle between nave
and chancel. On the south elevation there is a doorway with a porch. The simple font
is late medieval. The pulpit was carved by local villagers and has an 18th century memorial plaque on the wall beside it. Also of interest is the wooden alms box which has a carved open palm on top and stands by the south door. In front of the alter at the eastern end of the church there is a 19th century polychrome marbles and malachite floor which is reputed to be a Russian gift.
, but in addition, a number of pupils come from the nearby town of Daventry
and other surrounding villages. The school is very popular and has been oversubscribed for several years. In 2005 the school’s Key Stage 2
contextual value added
measure was in the top 3% of schools nationally. The present school consists of five classrooms, a hall, library and an ICT suite. There are 2 designated activity areas, a swimming pool, staff room, administration office and headmasters study. Outside the school there is a landscaped playground and use of the adjoining recreation field for sports activities.
. Welton Place was known to the locals as 'The Big House' and it had been in the possession of the to the Clarke family for a further century after its completion. The house was situated by a lake around which were planted rare Cedar trees some of which are protected and can still be seen as can the lake. When Joseph Clarke died he left the house to his brother Richard Clarke of Nortoft
, a hamlet
close to the village of Guilsborough
. When Richard Clarke died 1774 he left the house to his wife. Richard Clark’s great nephew John Plomer inherited the Clarke estates and added the surname to his own in 1774 but it seems did not own Welton Place until he purchased from Richard Clark’s widow in 1804. In 1806 John Plomer Clark as he now was, married in 1806 the daughter of Sir John Nelthorp, a Miss Anne Marie Charlotte Nelthorp. In 1813 Plomer Clark raised the Daventry Volunteers and was High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1814. He also commanded the West Northants Militia. John Plomer Clark died on 23 March 1826 without issue and so the house was left to his Brother. The last Clark to inherit the house was called Richard. Eventually the house was rented to Major Harry Sebastian Garrard
who was the Crown Jeweller, who was world renowned for important jewellery works. His work includes a small diamond crown created in 1870 Queen Victoria, which she often dressed in and is one of her most enduring images. Other notable works of Garrard include Queen Mary's
Crown for King George V
’s Coronation and the Imperial Crown of India worn by King George V worn by him at the Delhi Durbar
later the same year. In 1937 Garrard remounted the Imperial State Crown, and made further adjustments for HM The Queen for the Coronation in 1953. Local folklore says that royalty may have visited Welton Place but no evidence has been uncovered to substantiate this claim.
Sadly Welton Place seems to have gone into a period of rapid decline culminating in the house being converted to flats but ultimately demolished in 1972. The deeds, family and estate papers including household accounts are available at the National Archives covering the Clarke family from 1366 to 1896.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the English 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 located 2.6 miles (4.2 km) north of the nearest town Daventry
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
. It is 15 miles (24.1 km) west-northwest 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...
, 9 miles (14.5 km) south east of Rugby
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
and 79.2 miles (127.5 km) north-west of London. The village is 1 miles (1.6 km) of the A361
A361 road
The A361 is a major road in England and at is the longest 3 digit A road in the UK. It runs south from Ilfracombe on the north Devon coast to Barnstaple, turning south-east to Tiverton then, after a break , north east from Taunton in Somerset through Street and Glastonbury, past Frome and then...
that runs between Daventry and Crick where the M1
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
junction 18 gives access to the national motorway network north and south. The nearest railway station is at Long Buckby
Long Buckby railway station
Long Buckby railway station is a small railway station that serves the village of Long Buckby in Northamptonshire, England. The station is 15 km north west of Northampton....
for the London Midland
London Midland
London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007....
services to Birmingham New Street and Northampton
Northampton railway station
Northampton railway station is a railway station serving the large town of Northampton and other parts of Northamptonshire in England. Other parts of South Northamptonshire are better served by Kings Sutton, Banbury and Milton Keynes Central stations....
, on the Northampton loop of the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
. For inter-city services (Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland...
), passengers should change at Rugby
Rugby railway station
Rugby railway station serves the town of Rugby in Warwickshire, England. It opened during the Victorian era, in 1885, replacing earlier stations situated a little further west...
, the next station westbound. The Village and parish of Welton had in the 2001 census
United 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....
, a population of 634. For the purposes of local government, the village falls within the district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
of Daventry
Daventry (district)
The Daventry district is the largest local government district of western Northamptonshire, England. The district is named after the town of Daventry which is the administrative headquarters and largest town...
.
Description
The village and parish of Welton is within the district of Daventry in the south west of the county of NorthamptonshireNorthamptonshire
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 located in the centre of the parish with a large portion of the village sitting on the south east slope of Crockwell hill, one of the many low range hills which Characterise this part of the Northamptonshire Uplands. To the north the parish is bounded with the parish of Ashby St Ledgers
Ashby St Ledgers
Ashby St Ledgers is a village in the Daventry district of Northamptonshire, England, although the postal address is Rugby in Warwickshire. The Manor House is famous for being the location for the planning of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. The building is now part of the Crown estate.-Location:The...
. To the east the boundary is marked with the route of the A5
A5 road
The A5 is a major road in England and Wales. It is also the first Roman built road in England hence the name Roman Road. It runs for about from London, England to Holyhead, Wales, following in part a section of the Roman Iter II route which later took the Anglo-Saxon name Watling...
Watling Street
Watling Street
Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Britons mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. The Romans later paved the route, part of which is identified on the Antonine Itinerary as Iter III: "Item a Londinio ad...
, the name given to an ancient trackway
Ancient trackway
Ancient trackway can refer to any track or trail whose origin is lost in antiquity. Such paths existed from the earliest prehistoric times and in every inhabited part of the globe...
in England and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
that was first used by the Celts, and later improved and paved by the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. To the east of this highway is the parish of Long Buckby
Long Buckby
Long Buckby is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England, midway between Northampton and Rugby. In the 2001 census the parish of Long Buckby had a population of exactly 4,000....
. To the south lies the parishes of Daventry
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
and Norton
Norton, Northamptonshire
Norton is a village in the district of Daventry in the English County of Northamptonshire. The village is about east of Daventry, west of Northampton. Junction 16 of the M1 motorway is about south-east and the nearest railway station is at Long Buckby to the east...
, whilst to the west is the parish of Braunston
Braunston
Braunston is a village and civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, England. It has a population of 1,675 . Braunston is situated just off the A45 main road and lies between the towns of Rugby and Daventry....
. The southern boundary is also marked by the course of 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...
which also dissects the eastern boundary for a short looping distance.
History
The name Welton derives from the Old English meaning Wel or spring and Ton being the Saxon word for a village. Archaeological evidence as shown that the six wells in the parish prompted a Roman encampment.The Domesday Book
Welton has an entry in 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 1085 where its population, land ownership and productive resources were extensively detailed In the survey Welton is recorded by the names of Waletone, Weletone and Welintone. The tenants pre-conquest was Wulfrner from the Count of Mortain
Robert, Count of Mortain
Robert, Count of Mortain, 1st Earl of Cornwall was a Norman nobleman and the half-brother of William I of England. Robert was the son of Herluin de Conteville and Herleva of Falaise and was full brother to Odo of Bayeux. The exact year of Robert's birth is unknown Robert, Count of Mortain, 1st...
, Osbern from Hugh de Grandmesnil
Hugh de Grandmesnil
Hugh de Grandmesnil , also known as Hugh or Hugo de Grentmesnil or Grentemesnil, is one of the very few proven Companions of William the Conqueror known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Subsequently he became a great landowner in England.He was the elder son of Robert of...
and Leofric from the Countess Judith
Judith of Lens
Countess Judith , was a niece of William the Conqueror. She was a daughter of his sister Adelaide of Normandy, Countess of Aumale and Lambert II, Count of Lens....
. The survey also list that there was a mill.
The parish church of Saint Martin
The parish church has a prominent position in the centre of the village. The building is constructed from Northamptonshire Iron stone. At the western end there is a square tower with corner buttresses, which dates from the beginning of the 14th century. There is an octagonal clock face on the western elevation of the tower. The line of an earlier naveNave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
roof is visible on the tower. The nave is in the perpendicular style and has four-bay arcades. The nave and aisles sharing a single roof. There are big panelled aisle windows which provide plenty of light in this church. The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
is also perpendicular, with a vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
to the north in the angle between nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and chancel. On the south elevation there is a doorway with a porch. The simple font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is late medieval. The pulpit was carved by local villagers and has an 18th century memorial plaque on the wall beside it. Also of interest is the wooden alms box which has a carved open palm on top and stands by the south door. In front of the alter at the eastern end of the church there is a 19th century polychrome marbles and malachite floor which is reputed to be a Russian gift.
Welton Church of England Primary School
The first school in the village was established in 1820 and situated near to the present school building. The school moved to its present site in Well Lane in 1910 and it was extended in 1976, 1995 and 2004. The school’s catchment area consists of the villages of Welton and Ashby St LedgersAshby St Ledgers
Ashby St Ledgers is a village in the Daventry district of Northamptonshire, England, although the postal address is Rugby in Warwickshire. The Manor House is famous for being the location for the planning of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. The building is now part of the Crown estate.-Location:The...
, but in addition, a number of pupils come from the nearby town of Daventry
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
and other surrounding villages. The school is very popular and has been oversubscribed for several years. In 2005 the school’s Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 is the legal term for the four years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, when pupils are aged between 7 and 11. The term is applied differently in Northern Ireland where it refers to pupils in Year 5, Year 6 and...
contextual value added
Contextual value added
Contextual value added is a statistic used by the government of the United Kingdom to assess the performance of schools.The statistic is intended to show the progress children have made whilst attending a particular school...
measure was in the top 3% of schools nationally. The present school consists of five classrooms, a hall, library and an ICT suite. There are 2 designated activity areas, a swimming pool, staff room, administration office and headmasters study. Outside the school there is a landscaped playground and use of the adjoining recreation field for sports activities.
Welton Place
Welton place was a large country house which once stood in the village which was demolished in 1972. It was built by Joseph Clarke in 1758. The Clarke family had been associated with the parish of Welton since around 1596. Joseph Clarke had been High Sheriff of NorthamptonshireHigh Sheriff of Northamptonshire
This is a list of the High Sheriffs of Northamptonshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been...
. Welton Place was known to the locals as 'The Big House' and it had been in the possession of the to the Clarke family for a further century after its completion. The house was situated by a lake around which were planted rare Cedar trees some of which are protected and can still be seen as can the lake. When Joseph Clarke died he left the house to his brother Richard Clarke of Nortoft
Nortoft
Nortoft was once a distinct hamlet between the Northamptonshire village of Guilsborough and the main road connecting Leicester and Northampton in the English Midlands.However due to Guilsborough's expansion the two communities are now merged....
, a hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
close to the village of Guilsborough
Guilsborough
Guilsborough is a village and civil parish in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire in England. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 660 people....
. When Richard Clarke died 1774 he left the house to his wife. Richard Clark’s great nephew John Plomer inherited the Clarke estates and added the surname to his own in 1774 but it seems did not own Welton Place until he purchased from Richard Clark’s widow in 1804. In 1806 John Plomer Clark as he now was, married in 1806 the daughter of Sir John Nelthorp, a Miss Anne Marie Charlotte Nelthorp. In 1813 Plomer Clark raised the Daventry Volunteers and was High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1814. He also commanded the West Northants Militia. John Plomer Clark died on 23 March 1826 without issue and so the house was left to his Brother. The last Clark to inherit the house was called Richard. Eventually the house was rented to Major Harry Sebastian Garrard
Garrard & Co
Garrard & Co is a luxury jewellery and silver company founded by George Wickesin London in 1735. Its current base is at Albemarle Street in Mayfair, London, its USA flagship store is in New York. The company also has a presence in Tokyo, New York, Dubai, Moscow and Hong Kong...
who was the Crown Jeweller, who was world renowned for important jewellery works. His work includes a small diamond crown created in 1870 Queen Victoria, which she often dressed in and is one of her most enduring images. Other notable works of Garrard include Queen Mary's
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
Crown for King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
’s Coronation and the Imperial Crown of India worn by King George V worn by him at the Delhi Durbar
Delhi Durbar
The Delhi Durbar , meaning "Court of Delhi", was a mass assembly at Coronation Park, Delhi, India, to mark the coronation of a King and Queen of the United Kingdom. Also known as the Imperial Durbar, it was held three times, in 1877, 1903, and 1911, at the height of the British Empire. The 1911...
later the same year. In 1937 Garrard remounted the Imperial State Crown, and made further adjustments for HM The Queen for the Coronation in 1953. Local folklore says that royalty may have visited Welton Place but no evidence has been uncovered to substantiate this claim.
Sadly Welton Place seems to have gone into a period of rapid decline culminating in the house being converted to flats but ultimately demolished in 1972. The deeds, family and estate papers including household accounts are available at the National Archives covering the Clarke family from 1366 to 1896.