Monument record 4679 - Blisworth

Prior to 1066, Blisworth was held by Countess Gytha of Hereford and afterwards by William Peverel, a major landholder after the Conquest.

{1} Brass rubbing of Roger Wake Esq, Lord of the manor and his wife - 1503.

{3} Blisworth was in a key location for industrial developments in the late 18th century and early 19th century. The Grand Junction Canal Company built the canal from London to Braunston via Blisworth and also constructed the earliest tramway in the county to transport goods over Blisworth Hill whilst the canal tunnel was being completed. In 1838 the London and Birmingham Railway also passed through Blisworth which later became the junction for lines to Northampton, Stratford-on-Avon and Banbury. Both limestone and ironstone were extensively quarried in the vicinity of the village which is notable for having the earlest (c.1820) limestone quarry in the county. It also boasted one of the earliest ironstone tramways in the county - from the Stoke Road allotments down to the canal in c.1852 - but little sign of this now remains.

{4} Blisworth lies at the junction of roads from Towcester, Stoke Bruerne, Gayton, Milton Malsor and Courteenhall. It contains many C17th and C18th houses, mostly of mingled freestone and ironstone with thatched or slated roofs, of which a prime example is Stoneacres. Other prominent buildings include Blisworth House (c.1700) to the south-east of the church, the Old Rectory (1841) to the west of the church, and of course Blisworth Tunnel (1793-1805). The church stands to the west of the village, and to its west is the Rectory House. Historically, village development has been concentrated on both sides of the High Street, along Church Lane, Chapel Lane, Little Lane and along the east side of Northampton Road.

{6} The earliest map of the village is a record of the Duke of Grafton’s holdings. The map shows the village prior to the later development brought about by the creation of the Grand Junction Canal.

<1> Brass Rubbings at Ashmolean Museum, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41806.

<2> Freeston G.; Bunker J., 1997, The Great Blisworth Countractor; Richard Dunkley and His Building Projects, p.259-64 (unchecked) (Article). SNN104880.

<3> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2011, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage of Northamptonshire (2nd Edition), p.13 (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN107622.

<4> Ivens R.J., 2007, Archaeological Watching Brief at The Church of St John The Baptist, Blisworth, Northamptonshire, p.2-3 (checked) (Report). SNN105921.

<5> Hornby B., 2005, A Grand Life: memories of George Freeston of Blisworth, (unchecked) (Book). SNN109346.

<6> 1729, Grafton Survey Map (NRO Map 4212), (unchecked) (Map). SNN16165.

<7> 1808, Blisworth Draft Inclosure Map (NRO Map 2931), (unchecked) (Map). SNN109658.

<8> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.224 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100371.

<9> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.17 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

Record last edited

Jul 28 2026 11:41AM