South Northamptonshire was, from 1974 to 2021, a
district
A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivision ...
in
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire (; abbreviated Northants.) is a county in the East Midlands of England. In 2015, it had a population of 723,000. The county is administered by
two unitary authorities: North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. It ...
,
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
. Its council was based in the town of
Towcester
Towcester ( ) is an affluent market town in Northamptonshire, England. It currently lies in West Northamptonshire but was the former administrative headquarters of the South Northamptonshire district council.
Towcester is one of the olde ...
, first established as a settlement in
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the period in classical antiquity when large parts of the island of Great Britain were under occupation by the Roman Empire. The occupation lasted from AD 43 to AD 410. During that time, the territory conquered wa ...
. The population of the Local Authority District Council in 2011 was 85,189.
The largest town in the district was
Brackley
Brackley is a market town and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England, bordering Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, from Oxford and from Northampton. Historically a market town based on the wool and lace trade, it was built on the inter ...
, which had a population of 14,000 in 2008
followed by Towcester which has a population of nearly 10,000.
Other significant settlements in size included
Deanshanger,
Bugbrooke,
Roade,
King's Sutton,
Silverstone
Silverstone is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is about from Towcester on the former A43 main road, from the M1 motorway junction 15A and about from the M40 motorway junction 10, Northampton, Milton Keynes and ...
and
Middleton Cheney. Many of the villages listed have populations exceeding 1000.
Geography
Elevations and shape
The northern half of the district was generally higher than the south, reaching 192m
AOD[Ordnance Survey map for grid reference SP44]
/ref> northeast of the centre of Aston-le-Walls, and 182m on the road east of Culworth, a village which also rests on top of the ridge following the general WSW line of the county and of the district but except for this is north of the district. This ridge is part of the Jurassic Way. Lower parts are at 85m AOD (above mean sea level) in the southwest corner and AOD in the northeast.
The district was shaped approximately like the Christian cross in an ENE
Ene or ENE may refer to:
Ene
* Ene (name), a given name and surname
* Ene, a type of hydrocarbon involved in the Ene reaction and the Thiol-ene reaction
* -ene'', a suffix used in the names of certain organic compounds (alkenes)
* Ene, Spanish ...
orientation extending from its top at the southeast of Northampton and reaching to a north–south line south-by-southeast of Banbury
Banbury is a historic market town on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, South East England. It had a population of 54,335 at the 2021 Census.
Banbury is a significant commercial and retail centre for the surrounding area of north Oxfordshir ...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primaril ...
. An additional arm near its foot reached north through the large village of Chipping Warden to Upper Boddington.
Soil and geology
Land was taken up with for the most part with arable agriculture peppered by villages, however allows space for two towns of significant size. Supporting this is a regular interspersion of two high fertility types of soil for most plants and crops: ''freely draining slightly acid but base-rich''; and ''lime-rich loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage'' soils, on a default (generally slightly lower) soil of ''slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils'' (of medium fertility). The district in terms of watercourses had sources and headwaters of the rivers Cherwell, Great Ouse
The River Great Ouse () is a river in England, the longest of several British rivers called "Ouse". From Syresham in Northamptonshire, the Great Ouse flows through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk to drain into the W ...
and Nene.[
]
Whittlewood Forest
Whittlewood Forest
Whittlewood Forest is a former medieval hunting forest east of Silverstone in Northamptonshire in England. It is managed by the Forestry England. There are tracts of ancient woodland within it and old ditches can be found at the edges of seve ...
occupies a modest area for a forest and is broken up by fields (in the southern arm close to Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes ( ) is a city and the largest settlement in Buckinghamshire, England, about north-west of London. At the 2021 Census, the population of its urban area was over . The River Great Ouse forms its northern boundary; a tributary ...
which reaches to the Great Ouse
The River Great Ouse () is a river in England, the longest of several British rivers called "Ouse". From Syresham in Northamptonshire, the Great Ouse flows through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk to drain into the W ...
) and this surrounds Whittlebury
Whittlebury is a village and civil parish in the south of the English county of Northamptonshire, close to its border with Buckinghamshire.
History
It is due south of the town of Towcester, to which it is connected by main roads. At the time of ...
, the fields south of the upland village of Paulerspury on straight, Roman Watling Street
Watling Street is a historic route in England that crosses the River Thames at London and which was used in Classical Antiquity, Late Antiquity, and throughout the Middle Ages. It was used by the ancient Britons and paved as one of the main ...
which passes through the forest. This lies between Silverstone and Potterspury (also with a conservation area
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...
on Watling Street) or equally between Deanshanger and Towcester
Towcester ( ) is an affluent market town in Northamptonshire, England. It currently lies in West Northamptonshire but was the former administrative headquarters of the South Northamptonshire district council.
Towcester is one of the olde ...
.
Demography and human geography
With just over 79,293 people in 2000 and 91,000 in 2008, a 14.8% increase.
The growth in population between 2001 and 2007 was the third largest of all districts in the country and consisted of 35,700 households.
The district was notable for the proportion of and growth in detached houses, and the district was one of a tiny proportion to have seen a growth in the proportion of this type of home relative to other types between 2001 and 2011.
History
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974. It was one of the most significant Acts of Parliament to be passed by the Heath Gov ...
, and was a merger of the municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002. Broadly similar structures existed in S ...
of Brackley, along with Brackley Rural District
Brackley is a market town and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England, bordering Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, from Oxford and from Northampton. Historically a market town based on the wool and lace trade, it was built on the inter ...
, Towcester Rural District, and part of Northampton Rural District.
Abolition and replacement
In March 2018 at Northamptonshire County Council, following financial and cultural mismanagement by the cabinet and officers, the then Secretary of State for Local Government, Sajid Javid
Sajid Javid (; born 5 December 1969) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care from June 2021 to July 2022, having previously served as Home Secretary from 2018 to 2019 and Chancellor of the Exchequer ...
, sent commissioner Max Caller into the council, who recommended the county council and all district and borough councils in the county be abolished, and replaced by two unitary authorities, one covering the West, and one the North of the county. These proposals were approved in April 2019. It meant that the districts of Daventry, Northampton
Northampton () is a market town and civil parish in the East Midlands of England, on the River Nene, north-west of London and south-east of Birmingham. The county town of Northamptonshire, Northampton is one of the largest towns in England ...
and South Northamptonshire were merged to form a new unitary authority called West Northamptonshire, whilst the second unitary authority North Northamptonshire
North Northamptonshire is one of two local authority areas in Northamptonshire, England. It is a Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area forming about one half of the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Northampto ...
consists of Corby
Corby is a town in North Northamptonshire, England, located north-east of Northampton. From 1974 to 2021, the town served as the administrative headquarters of the Borough of Corby. At the 2011 United Kingdom census, 2011 Census, the built-up ...
, East Northamptonshire
East Northamptonshire was from 1974 to 2021 a local government district in Northamptonshire, England. Its council was based in Thrapston and Rushden. Other towns include Oundle, Raunds, Irthlingborough and Higham Ferrers. The town of Rushde ...
, Kettering
Kettering is a market and industrial town in North Northamptonshire, England. It is located north of London and north-east of Northampton, west of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene. The name means "the place (or territory) ...
and Wellingborough districts. These new authorities came into being on 1 April 2021. Elections for the new authorities were due to be held on 7 May 2020, but were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
.
Settlements and parishes
''For a county-wide list for Northamptonshire see List of places in Northamptonshire''
*Abthorpe
Abthorpe is a village and civil parish in the valley of the River Tove in West Northamptonshire, England, about west of Towcester, northwest of Silverstone and approximately midway between London and Birmingham.
The 2001 census recorded 28 ...
, Adstone
Adstone is a village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England. The population at the 2001 census was 65. It remained than 100 at the 2011 census and was included in the civil parish of Tiffield. Adstone is situated approximately s ...
, Ashton, Aston le Walls
Aston le Walls is a village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England, close by the border with Oxfordshire. The village is about north of Banbury in Oxfordshire, and south of Daventry. Neighbouring villages are Chipping Warden, Lo ...
, Astrop, Aynho
Aynho (, formerly spelt ''Aynhoe'') is a village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England, on the edge of the Cherwell valley south-east of the north Oxfordshire town of Banbury and southwest of Brackley.
Along with its neighbou ...
*Blakesley
Blakesley is a village in the West Northamptonshire, England. It is about west of Towcester. It is about above sea level according to Ordnance Survey. North-west of Blakesley, and now contiguous with it, is the hamlet of Quinbury End.
Demogr ...
, Blisworth, Boddington, Brackley
Brackley is a market town and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England, bordering Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, from Oxford and from Northampton. Historically a market town based on the wool and lace trade, it was built on the inter ...
, Bradden
Bradden is a village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England, about west of Towcester. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 179, falling to 149 at the 2011 census.
The villages name means 'broad valley'.
Buildings
...
, Brafield-on-the-Green
Brafield-on-the-Green is a civil parish and small village in West Northamptonshire.
The villages name means 'Hill-top open country'.
Location
Brafield is about south-east of Northampton, in the shire county of Northamptonshire known as "Nor ...
, Bugbrooke
* Caldecote, Castle Ashby, Chacombe
Chacombe (sometimes Chalcombe in the past) is a village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England, about north-east of Banbury. It is bounded to the west by the River Cherwell, to the north by a tributary and to the south-east by the ...
, Charlton, Chipping Warden, Cogenhoe
Cogenhoe ( , ) is a village in West Northamptonshire, England. The civil parish of ''Cogenhoe and Whiston'' had a population at the 2011 census of 1,436.
The village of Cogenhoe is some five miles (8 km) east of the county town, Northam ...
, Cold Higham
Cold Higham is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. Cold Higham Parish, also includes Fosters Booth (West), Grimscote, and Potcote. It is adjacent to Weedon Bec, Pattishall, Eastcote and Astcote. The A5 runs along the east ...
, Cosgrove, Courteenhall
Courteenhall is a village south of the county town of Northampton, in the shire county of Northamptonshire, England, and about north of London. The population of the civil parish was 122 at the 2011 census. The village is located in a cul-de-s ...
, Croughton, Culworth
* Deanshanger, Denton
*Easton Neston
Easton Neston is situated in south Northamptonshire, England. Though the village of Easton Neston which was inhabited until around 1500 is now gone, the parish retains the name. At the 2011 Census the population of the civil parish remained le ...
, Edgcote, Evenley
Evenley is a village and civil parish just over south of Brackley in West Northamptonshire, England. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 571.
The villages name means 'Level wood/clearing'.
Geography
The parish is bounded by ...
, Eydon
* Farthinghoe
* Gayton, Grafton Regis, Grange Park, Greatworth
Greatworth is a village in the civil parish of Greatworth and Halse about north-west of Brackley, West Northamptonshire, England. The parish also includes the hamlet of Halse. In 2011, the settlement had a population of 708. The 2011 Census ...
, Greens Norton, Grimscote
Grimscote is a hamlet in the civil parish of Cold Higham, in the West Northamptonshire district of Northamptonshire, England. Grimscote is one of 4 settlements (Cold Higham, Fosters Booth (West) and Potcote) that make up Cold Higham parish. ...
* Hackleton, Harpole
Harpole is a village west of Northampton, England, along the A4500 road (formerly the A45) about east of the M1 Motorway junction 16.
The village's name means "filthy pool".
Governance
Harpole is in the unitary authority area of West Northa ...
, Hartwell Hartwell may refer to:
Places
* Hartwell, Victoria, a neighbourhood of Camberwell in Melbourne, Australia
** Hartwell railway station
England
* Hartwell, Buckinghamshire
* Hartwell, Northamptonshire, a village
* Hartwell, Staffordshire, a loc ...
, Helmdon, Hinton-in-the-Hedges
Hinton-in-the-Hedges is a small village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England, due west of the town of Brackley. West of the village is Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was ...
* King's Sutton, Kislingbury
*Litchborough
Litchborough is an historic village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 300 people, , Little Houghton
*Maidford
Maidford is a civil and ecclesiastical parish in West Northamptonshire and the diocese of Peterborough situated about north-west of Towcester. The population at the 2011 census was 168. It was a centre of local Northamptonshire lace-making unti ...
, Marston St Lawrence, Middleton Cheney, Milton Malsor, Moreton Pinkney
*Nether Heyford
Nether Heyford is a village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England, close to the M1 motorway and the A5 and A45 roads, west of Northampton and northwest of London. The smaller village of Upper Heyford is about half a mile to the ...
, Newbottle
* Old Stratford, Overthorpe
* Pattishall, Paulerspury, Potterspury
* Quinton
*Radstone
Radstone is a hamlet and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, about north of Brackley. The 2001 Census recorded a parish population of 54. At the 2011 Census the population of the hamlet remained less than 100 and was included in the civ ...
, Roade, Rothersthorpe
Rothersthorpe is a small village of medieval origin, in West Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 500 in the 2001 Census, reducing to 472 at the 2011 census. It is from the town of Northampton.
Governance
The village is currentl ...
*Shutlanger
Shutlanger is a small village and civil parish in south Northamptonshire, England. The village is east of Towcester and south of Northampton.
The village's name means 'Shuttle sloping-wood', maybe alluding to where transports, bolts or bars ...
, Silverstone
Silverstone is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is about from Towcester on the former A43 main road, from the M1 motorway junction 15A and about from the M40 motorway junction 10, Northampton, Milton Keynes and ...
, Slapton, Stoke Bruerne, Sulgrave, Syresham
*Thenford
Thenford is a village and civil parish about northwest of the market town of Brackley in West Northamptonshire, England, and east of Banbury in nearby Oxfordshire. The 2001 Census recorded the parish population as 74. At the 2011 Census the p ...
, Thorpe Mandeville
Thorpe Mandeville is a village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England about northeast of Banbury in neighbouring Oxfordshire. The hamlet of Lower Thorpe is just north of the village.
The village's name means 'Outlying farm/settle ...
, Tiffield
Tiffield is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England, north of Towcester between the A5 road to its west and the A43 road to its east.
The village's name origin is dubious. It has been suggested that the primary component of th ...
, Towcester
Towcester ( ) is an affluent market town in Northamptonshire, England. It currently lies in West Northamptonshire but was the former administrative headquarters of the South Northamptonshire district council.
Towcester is one of the olde ...
* Upper Heyford
* Wappenham, Warkworth, Weedon Lois
Weedon Lois (or Lois Weedon) is a village in Weston and Weedon civil parish, about west of Towcester, Northamptonshire, England.
The villages name means 'Heathen temple hill'. There is a well in the parish, named after St. Loys or Lewis, ...
, Weston, Whiston, Whitfield, Whittlebury
Whittlebury is a village and civil parish in the south of the English county of Northamptonshire, close to its border with Buckinghamshire.
History
It is due south of the town of Towcester, to which it is connected by main roads. At the time of ...
, Wicken, Woodend
* Yardley Gobion, Yardley Hastings
Yardley Hastings is a village and civil parish in the English county of Northamptonshire. It is located south-east of the county town of Northampton and is skirted on its south side by the main A428 road to Bedford.
History
The village's name ...
Gallery
File:Kings Sutton 1 (5).png, Farmland
Agricultural land is typically land ''devoted to'' agriculture, the systematic and controlled use of other forms of lifeparticularly the rearing of livestock and production of cropsto produce food for humans. It is generally synonymous with bo ...
outside the village of King's Sutton in Northamptonshire in 2009.
File:King's sutton station Mk2 (5).png, King's Sutton railway station
Kings Sutton railway station serves the village of King's Sutton in Northamptonshire, England. It is also one of the nearest railway stations to the town of Brackley. The station is managed by Chiltern Railways, who provide most of the service ...
was upgraded and re-gained its footbridge
A footbridge (also a pedestrian bridge, pedestrian overpass, or pedestrian overcrossing) is a bridge designed solely for pedestrians.''Oxford English Dictionary'' While the primary meaning for a bridge is a structure which links "two points at ...
in 2009.
File:Kings Sutton mk1.png, A picture of King' Sutton in 2000.
File:Kings Sutton 1 (3).png, A picture of King's Sutton in 2000.
Museum
Towcester Museum
Arms
See also
* South Northamptonshire local elections
* Grade I listed buildings in South Northamptonshire
* Grade II* listed buildings in South Northamptonshire
Notes and references
;Notes
;References
{{Coord, 52.10, -1.10, region:GB_type:adm3rd, display=title
Former non-metropolitan districts
Non-metropolitan districts of Northamptonshire
2021 disestablishments in England
West Northamptonshire District