Building record 4672/0/1 - Nos.25 & 27 Northampton Road (Grafton Villas)

{1} Pair of semi-detached cottages. 1838. Limestone ashlar, hipped slate roof, central stone internal stack. Double-depth plan. 2-storey, 3-window range. Central block has 16-pane sash windows to ground and first floors with moulded stone surrounds, and is flanked by lower 2-storey wings. These wings house staircase hall and have panelled doors in stone porches with Tuscan pillars and pilasters, plain frieze, moulded cornice and blocking cornice; blank rectangular panel above porch. Interior: stone cantilever staircases with cast-iron balustrade and columns supporting landing and ramped and wreathed mahogany hand-rail. Stone-flagged floors; some original stone chimneypieces. No.27 has original back staircase leading from kitchen. Part of an extensive building programme undertaken by the Grafton estate under the direction of the agent John Gardner and referred to in his letter of 19th October 1838 "I have chosen the site for and set out the double cottage this morning, it will have a lodge-like effect, and be an ornamental adjunct to the Archway as well as shew off our stone to the best advantage". (Grafton papers G4034/2 accounts G3901). The cottages stand beside the railway bridge (q.v.) on the main road to Northampton, referred to in letter as "the Archway". They are built of local stone from the Grafton estate quarry at Blisworth (q.v. Stone Works Farmhouse). (Grafton papers Northamptonshire Record Office).

{3} The two villas situated on the corner of Station Road were speculatively built for Lord Grafton to advertise the building stone available from his nearby quarries.

{5} Undated photo, also photo dated 15.12.1993;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 4/27 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F10 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 1996-2013, Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Newsletter, Issue 108 p.13 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN55360.

<4> Steane J., 1974, The Northamptonshire Landscape, p.240-41 (unchecked) (Book). SNN5137.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Blisworth (Photographs). SNN112040.

Record last edited

Sep 2 2020 10:53AM