Upton, Northamptonshire
| Upton | |
|---|---|
Upton Hall | |
Upton Location within Northamptonshire | |
| Population | 10,035 (2021 census) [1] 1,720 (2011 census)[2] 590 (2001 census) |
| OS grid reference | SP719601 |
| • London | 68 miles (109 km) |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Northampton |
| Postcode district | NN5 |
| Dialling code | 01604 |
| Police | Northamptonshire |
| Fire | Northamptonshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Upton is a civil parish north-east of Kislingbury and south-west of Dallington, in Northamptonshire, England about 3.5 miles (6 km) west of Northampton town centre along the A4500 road. Formerly a scattered hamlet, it is now part of the town. The area west of Northampton is now a major area of expansion of the town and named Upton after the parish.
Demographics
The 2021 census shows that the parish's population was 10,035 people.[3]
Governance
It was formerly part of the Upton Ward of Northampton Borough Council and the Sixfields Division of Northamptonshire County Council,[4] and is now part of the Upton Ward of West Northamptonshire Council.
History
The name 'Upton' means 'Higher farm/settlement'. The village is both on a hill and is higher up the River Nene than Northampton.[5]
Upton Hall
James Harington, the author of The Commonwealth of Oceana, which found little favour with Oliver Cromwell, was born in Upton Hall in 1611. He wrote the book in the nearby village of Milton Malsor. Harington's mother was Jane Samwell (or Samuell) of Upton, daughter of Sir William Samwell. The Samwells bought the hall in 1600 from the Knightley family of Fawsley[6] who had owned the hall since 1419. Most of the hall's appearance today is due to the Samwells. However, a late medieval roof remains above the hall ceiling. The front of the hall is 17th century. Sir Thomas Samwell's initials are on a rainwater head dated 1748. The Hall is a Grade I listed building. There are interesting family pictures and fine plasterwork dating from 1737. Also notable is the carved roof with late medieval tombers and the ballroom. The building is not open to the public except occasionally when Northampton Borough Council organise a heritage open day, usually a weekend in September.
A girls boarding and day school was started in Upton Hall by the Misses Teape in 1946 and given the name Upton Hall School. In 1964 a visitor arrived at Upton Hall School with a copy of Pevsner's Buildings of England in hand asking if he could see inside the Hall and particularly to see the roof space. This visitor was Viscount Althorp, later to become the 8th Earl Spencer, who of course lived at the beautiful Althorp about 6 miles from Upton Hall.
Quinton House School, an independent school for 2-18 year olds, now occupies Upton Hall buildings including a modern sports hall.[7]
St Michael's Church
The church is adjacent to the school and alongside the busy A45 road and is Norman, and Norman windows survive.[6] The tower is 14th century. There is a monument to Sir Richard Knightley (d.1537) and a memorial tablet to Thomas Samwell Watson Samwell (d.1835).
Saxon building
West of the church are the remains of a 6th or 7th century Saxon timber building, excavated in 1965.
References
- ^ "Upton (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location".
- ^ 2011 census covering local district of Upton, including representative postcode NN5 4AF, Accessed 2014_01_13
- ^ "Upton (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location".
- ^ Northampton Borough Council, Ward Boundaries, published 14 December 2009
- ^ "Key to English Place-names".
- ^ a b Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget (revision) (1961). The Buildings of England – Northamptonshire. London and New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 437–9. ISBN 978-0-300-09632-3.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Quinton House School website. Retrieved 25 November 2009
External links
Media related to Upton, Northamptonshire at Wikimedia Commons