Monument record 1697/0/4 - Archway Cottages Nos. 9 to 12 (consecutive)

Late C17th cottages connected by arch seem to have been designed as formal entrance into village. Built by W.Thursby.

{1} Late C17th cottages connected by arch seem to have been designed as formal entrance into village; built by W.Thursby;

{2} Late C17th but much rebuilt; squared rubble walls & tiled roofs; tall central round-headed arch to yard with buildings on 3 sides;

{3} 2 symmetrical sets of late C17th cottages; connected by arch which now leads down to courtyard with other cottages; speculates whether road originally passed through arch;

{4} Building shown at north-west corner of parkland;

{5} Buildings shown;

{6} At present there remains only 1 other building on site of C17th village; Archway Cottages were built away from village next to Wellingborough Rd between 1850-84 on site of earlier cottages as maps show; they are not themselves C17th as has been accepted;

{7} Late C17 in origin but much rebuilt. Squared rubble, tiled roofs. Tall central round headed arch to yard with buildings on 3 sides. 1 storey and attics, gabled half dormers. Casement windows in chamfered reveals with stone mullions. 4 windows to road front have dripmoulds.

{8} "The distinctive archway cottages, on the main road, belong to the last days of Abington village. Built around 1850 they were erected opposite Plum Lane, now Park Avenue North, to house shepherds, wagoners, etc from the estate. The stables housed chain horses to help wagons up the hill towards town. By the 1930s the cottages were empty and derelict, the rear disfigured by pigsties, the courtyard a dirt surface which turned to mud in the rain, and the roof leaking on rotten timbers. In 1938 the borough engineer was told to demolish the lot. Fortunately he dragged his feet allowing time for public concern to be registered and resistance marshalled. The furore was such that the council hesitated. Suggestions were made that it should become a rural museum but the war broke out the next year and the matter shelved. The cottages were tidied up, new garden walls built, several non-original features like red brick chimneys removed, and sturdy, period-style doors fitted."

{9} Four photographs dated 1990.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.210 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> Department of the Environment (DoE), 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, H14 p.135 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN3381.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.345 (checked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (checked) (Map). SNN1852.

<5> 1742, Abington Estate Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN41652.

<6> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, p.172 (checked) (Report). SNN41605.

<7> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 14/202 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<8> Burman, A., 2004, Still Growing into History, (unchecked) (Article). SNN104707.

<9> Photographs of buildings in Northampton (Photographs). SNN114989.

Record last edited

Nov 28 2023 8:49AM