Stanwick, Northamptonshire

Stanwick (pronounced with a silent 'w') is a village and civil parish in rural Northamptonshire, England. It is located approximately 15 miles to the north-east of Northampton and is the largest village in the East Northamptonshire district.

History

It is thought that there has been a settlement at Stanwick at least since the beginning of the Iron Age (~5BC). Several Iron-Age coins have been discovered in and near Stanwick and Stanwick is known to have had a Roman villa [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0068-113X(1989)20%3C149%3ATSVNAI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Q] ] .

In the 10th Century, Stanwick was known as "Stan Wigga" and in the Domesday Book (circa 1086), Stanwick is referred to as "Stanwige" or "Stanwica". Later it was mentioned in the 1137 Anglo Saxon Chronicle as "Stanwigga". It is generally believed that the name approximately means stone dwellings, stone farm or stone village. In 1086 the manor of Stanwick was held by Peterborough Abbey but by 1284 there appear to have been two manors.

St Laurence Church was built circa 1224, on the site of an earlier church, of which virtually nothing remains. It dominates the local landscape and its octagonal tower and spire are considered an architectural beauty. The weathercock is 137 feet above ground, and was given to the church in 1880 by the then landlord of the Duke of Wellington public house.

Stanwick Hall has 17th-century origins and the Old Rectory was built in 1717. In addition to these three buildings there are four others in Stanwick on the list of buildings of architectural or historic interest.

Population

* In 1901 there were 901 persons living in 214 dwellings in the Parish
* In 1981 there were 1,343 persons living in 530 dwellings
* The mid 1955 estimate is for 1,505 persons in 585 dwellings
* The 1991 census showed a population of 1,481 in 575 dwellings
* The 2006 estimate is a population of 1,950

Stanwick has the largest village population in the district of East Northamptonshire; services include shops, a Working Men's Club, a public house, a post office and a school. There is also a wide range of recreational facilities to the west of Aris Lane and at Stanwick Lakes (see below).

The village was a ward of Raunds Town Council until April 2000, when Stanwick Parish Council was established. It had originally been an independent parish, but was transferred from Thrapston Rural District to Raunds urban district in 1935.

Stanwick Lakes

Stanwick Lakes is a new country park on the outskirts of the village currently being developed by the Rockingham Forest Trust on behalf of East Northamptonshire Council. It comprises 600 acres (2.4 km²) of former gravel pits and is part of the larger River Nene Regional Park.

Local Events

The Stanwick International Road Race is a major event for this friendly village, with participants from a number of countries in addition to semi-professionals and amateurs from the local area. 2007 marked the 6th consecutive year for this 10Km Road Race and 2Km Fun Run which took place on Easter Monday, 9th April. [http://www.stanwickraces.org.uk/ Stanwick Races Group (External Website)]

Local Teddy Bears are encouraged to jump (with parachute) from the top of St Laurence Church once a year to help raise money for the upkeep of the church. Sponsorship forms are available a few weeks before the event and participating bears are given a special certificate of bravery.

Nearby settlements

Raunds, Hargrave, Chelveston,
Ringstead, Higham Ferrers, Rushden, Thrapston, Irthlingborough, Wellingborough.

Education

Stanwick consists of one primary school called, "Stanwick Primary School" [http://www.stanwick.northants.sch.uk/ Stanwick Primary School (External Website)] , which in 2007 was awarded a Grade 2 rating by OfSTED. The school is a single form entry mixed school for children from the Foundation to Year 6 age groups.

The village is also host to a non-profit pre-school playgroup called, "Stanwick Pre-school Playgroup" [http://www.stanwickplaygroup.org.uk/ Stanwick Pre-School Playgroup (External Website)]

Local Websites

* [http://www.stanwickweather.org.uk/ Stanwick Weather]
* [http://www.eastnorthantsonline.co.uk/pp/club/detail.asp?ID=1904 Stanwick Handbell Ringers]
* [http://www.eastnorthantsonline.co.uk/pp/location/detail.asp?id=428 Stanwick Web Hub on East Northants Online]
* [http://www.stanwickhistory.org.uk/ Stanwick History]
* [http://www.stanwickclub.co.uk Stanwick Club]
* [http://www.stanwick.northants.sch.uk Stanwick Primary School]
* [http://www.stanwickplaygroup.org.uk Stanwick Pre-school Playgroup]

Other External links

* [http://www.thrapstononline.co.uk/pp/parish/detail.asp?id=35 Stanwick Parish Council]
* [http://www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/ East Northamptonshire Council]
* [http://www.rockingham-forest-trust.org.uk/ Rockingham Forest Trust]
* [http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Environment/MKSM/RNRP.htm River Nene Regional Park]

References