Harpole

From 1974 to 2021, Harpole was in the South Northamptonshire local government district, where it was part of Harpole and Grange ward, together with the parishes of Milton Malsor, Kislingbury, Rothersthorpe and Gayton. It was also in the area of Northamptonshire County Council and is in the Parliamentary Constituency of Daventry.

The parish of Harpole covers about 760 hectares to the North of the River Nene which forms its southern boundary. The solid geology of the area is predominately Glacial Boulder Clay.^[5]

The historic core of Harpole retains the linear arrangement of its past, derived in part from the settlements manorial and agricultural origins.^[6]

The parish boundary is defined by streams emerging from springs in the high ground to the North of the village.^[4] The village itself is on the edge of the Northamptonshire Vales national character area^[7] built on relatively flat ground sloping gently down towards the Nene to the South. It is encircled by higher ground of the Northamptonshire Uplands national character area^[8] to the North and West.

The village lies between 70m and 90m above sea level. The elevation range of the parish ranges from approximately 65m^[9] along the Nene’s north bank to 140m atop the ridge to the Northwest of the village.^[10]

Evidence indicates that Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age settlement occurred within the parish. Roman settlement is more certain with the area around Harpole being forming part of a wider Roman landscape dominated by villa estates. The former Roman road from Bannaventa to Duston passes to the north of the settlement on the rough alignment of the current Duston, Nobottle, Brington Road. A Roman mosaic floor uncovered in 1846-48 identifies the site of a Roman villa north of the village^[11]. It has the scheduled monument reference number of 1003901^[12].

Harpole is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, with a recorded population of 27. The tenant in chief was William Peverel who held 2½ hides in Harpole. The total amount of arable land within the parish was 6 carucates. Other resources included 10 acres of meadow land and 10 acres of woodland. There was also a mill and Domesday recorded a priest which suggests that by the time the first Rector of Harpole was appointed in 1224 that there was probably a well-established church within the settlement.

The village grew round two separate medieval manors, the Tanfield Manor and the St Hillery Manor (later known as the Vaux Manor), the exact locations of which are not clear. This feature contributed to the linear shape of the historic village centre.

In the 17th century, after the feudal manorial lands had been broken up into parcels of land, and had been sold to local yeomen, Harpole experienced a burst of building activity typical of much of the country and referred to as ‘The Great Rebuilding.’ Many of the older buildings along the High Street date from around this time, typified by stone boundary walls and steep roofs.

The village was a thriving community in the 18th century and there are several listed buildings from this period. In around 1815, the Manning family built the Hall out of the profits made from the brewing industry and extensive farming in the surrounding area. The enclosure award in Harpole was made in 1778 and amongst other things made provision for the establishment of a school. It was however not until 1835 that a purpose made building was constructed.^[6]

Agriculture dominated until the mid-19th century. However, shoemaking had been one of Harpole’s staple trades. Local factors set up their agencies in the village, and many houses were extended to accommodate a shop where uppers were hand stitched before being taken to Northampton for finishing.

Many of the buildings from the 1850’s onwards are brick built, with Welsh slate roofs. In 1876 an early Cooperative movement was set up in Harpole. Ten years after it opened the Harpole Society had 193 members and purpose-built premises on the corner at the junction of Larkhall Lane and Upper High Street. It had a butchery with slaughter house attached, a bakery and general stores, a chemist and a millinery as well as a coal yard.  

The late 19th century saw the establishment of the Parish Council and the demise of the Vestry. The new council purchased land for allotments. Such community based activities continued over succeeding years providing the Playing Fields, the Coronation Green, the Millennium Flagpole, a Bowls Club, and Village Hall.^[4]

2001 census data^[14] shows 1,547 people resident in the Parish Council area consisting of 755 males and 792 females (the 2009 estimated population is 1,557^[15]), in 636 households, of which 82.6% were owner occupied or being purchased with a mortgage.

Harpole lies to the North of the A4500 (formerly the A45 and historically the Turnpike road) and to the South of Roman Road connecting Duston with Whilton. Junction 16 of the M1 lies 1 mile to the Southwest of the village, where a logistics and industrial park dominates the southwest corner of the parish.^[16]

Harpole has a primary school,^[19] pre-school^[20] and nursery^[21]

Harpole hosts a scarecrow weekend in September.^[22] There is also an event in December where Santa drives around the village, as in, following him.