Byfield, Northamptonshire

Byfield is a village and civil parish forming part of the Daventry district in the county of Northamptonshire in England.

History

Byfield, with Westhorp, is a village of some longevity as it is mentioned in the "Domesday Book". Throughout its long history, because of its position near to the , it has been close to many of the important events in history.

During the Wars of the Roses, in 1469 the battle of Edgecote took place, only three miles from Byfield. Likewise during the English Civil War the battles of Edgehill in 1642 and Naseby in 1645 must have had an impact on the local citizenry. In the Second World War the area around Byfield had numerous airfields and other military installations which would have had a considerable, and in some cases, long lasting effect.

Byfield once had a station on the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway (later part of the LMS), but this closed in April 1952.

Geography

The village of Byfield is situated in the folds of the northern edge of the Cotswolds, in the Southwestern corner of Northamptonshire, some four miles east of the intersection with the boundaries of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. Byfield also lies almost equidistant between Daventry to the north and Banbury to the south on the A361 road, each about nine to ten miles distant. Northampton lies some 25 miles east. Because of this geographic position the residents of Byfield look to both Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire for fulfillment of many of their service needs. This is especially true of areas such as health care, shopping and major items of furniture, white goods and the like.

Byfield has a population of around 1200/1250, 1032 electors (2007 Electoral Register) plus children. The Parish still has high level of agriculture, as it has some ten or so working farms, although like all modern farming they employ very few people. The other areas of employment are the usual modern mix of commuting, self employed and people who have locally based jobs, often part time.

Recreation

There are some thirty different clubs and organisations active in Byfield such as karate, over 60s club and the men's breakfast club. There is also an active book exchange which was set up in 2006.

Byfield is also fortunate to have a large recreation ground, The Brightwell, which has very active bowls, cricket, soccer and tennis clubs as well as a children’s playground and other recreational space.

The village hall is the venue for a number of weekly events as well as one off theatres, shows, exhibitions, quiz evenings, dances, weddings, parties etc.

Byfield Village Club which was formally known as Byfield Conservative Club has a membership of over 200 and is the venue for live music, social events and parties. There are active darts and skittles teams as well as a full size snooker table in the upstairs games room. The Village Club is housed in a former school house; the building itself being several hundred years old.

Parish Council

Byfield has had a Parish Council continuously since 1894, and this continuity has meant that the parish is actively managed for the good of its residents.

External links

* [http://www.byfield.org Information on Byfield, with weekly news etc.]
* [http://www.byfieldvillageclub.co.uk Information on Byfield Village Club.]
* [http://www.byfieldschool.com Information on Byfield Primary School.]