Monument record 826 - Upper Heyford

Medieval settlement remains seen as earthworks, suggest two single street hamlets, now contracted.

{1} Upper Heyford enclosed 8 years ago by Marquis of Powis who owns the greater part of it.

{2} The village is first noted in Domesday as comprising two small manors, both held by the Count of Mortain, with a population of two. It is combined with Nether Heyford after this until 1673 when 51 people are listed. In 1720 there were 20 houses and in 1801 the population was 122. However Nether Heyford didn't exist as an administrative unit at this time so the land was divided between Heyford, Flore and Bugbrooke.
The earliest cartographic representation of the village is a map of 1758 which shows a similar street pattern to that existing today, but with fewer farms and houses.
The surviving buildings, the cartographic evidence and the earthworks together suggest that there were once perhaps two very small settlements each lying along one or both sides of two parallel streets. They may have expanded southwards along these streets and then, at an unknown period before the mid 18th century, contracted. The 1758 map shows that the settlement remained small until that date although it later grew again.
The surviving earthworks are in poor condition and not completely understood. Field-walking has failed to produce evidence of occupaton further S.

<1> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.186 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.89 site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<3> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.322, 328 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<4> PRO series E179, E179/254/14 (Document). SNN115882.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.525 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<6> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.321 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<7> 1758, Map of Upper Heyford, (unchecked) (Map). SNN12978.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1834, First Edition Ordnance Survey 1 Inch Map Series (Sheet 52), (unchecked) (Map). SNN281.

<9> Murray J., 1999, Hipwell, Upper Heyford, Northamptonshire: An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, p.5-6 (checked) (Report). SNN100336.

<10> 1849, Upper Heyford Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN73617.

<11> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, (RAF CPE/UK/1994, 1172-3) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<12> Vertical Aerial Photograph, (Fairey Surveys Ltd 6603, 2364-5) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<13> Aerial Photograph, (Cambridge University Committee for Air Photographs, AMW61) (Photographs). SNN112974.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:47PM