Blakesley

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 52.1465
longitude= -1.0857
official_name= Blakesley
population = 492 (2001)
shire_district= South Northamptonshire
shire_county = Northamptonshire
region= East Midlands
constituency_westminster= Daventry
post_town= Towcester
postcode_district = NN12
postcode_area= NN
dial_code= 01327
os_grid_reference= SP625502

Blakesley is a village and civil parish in the South Northamptonshire district of Northamptonshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 492. The village is about five miles west of Towcester. The Ordnance Survey records it as being 426.5' above sea level.

The name is believed to have come from an Old English place-name meaning "Blaecwulf's wood or clearing" (or "black wolf's wood/clearing"). [http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/english/ins/epntest/php/detailpop.php?placeno=10903] Over time the name contracted to the present form. The name of the brook running through the village, the Black Ouse, was derived from the name of the town, and not the other way round as sometimes claimed.

The town is the site of Blakesley Hall. Blakesley Hall was owned by Charles William Bartholomew, the owner and 'Squire' of the parishes was a civil engineer and in 1903 installed a full 15" gauge miniature railway system in the grounds. Mr Bartholomew bought two 'Cagney locomotives and with the help of Alex Wyatt modified carriages and trucks.Along with the system around the grounds and no-doubt with the help of his railway connections, Mr Bartholomew had a quarter mile section built which ran to the then, East and West Junction Raiway's 'main line" station at Blakesley.The line brought supplies and goods up to the hall, and the odd passenger from a small yard in the goods yard of the main station.Mr Bartholomew died in 1919, his widow bringing the trains out on 'High Days and Holidays'. In 1939 the whole system was sold to an estate in Yorkshire. [http://www.andythompson.net/blakesley/ The SMJ railway]

After many uses which included being used as a war-time hospital, the Hall was demolished in 1957. Blakesley Hall, once in possession of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem.

.

The church building itself forms the centre of a number of obviously ecclesiastical buildings probably related to a religious community. Opposite the church is an ancient house known as the Priory and of obvious religious style and adjoining the churchyard are ancient tithe barns, now converted to housing but originally built in connection with the glebe lands.

To the northwest of Blakesley, and now contiguous with it, is the hamlet of Quinbury End.

External links

* [http://www.blakesley-village.co.uk/ Blakesley Village Website]
* [http://www.lambfold.org.uk/ The Lambfold Benefice]