Brief introduction to Woodford

Woodford is a village with a population of approximately 1400, and is situated on the banks of the River Nene (pronounced Nenn), seven miles east of Kettering and two miles west of Thrapston in the County of Northamptonshire (now more frequently abbreviated to Northants), England. Northamptonshire is about sixty miles north of London. The county operates a two tier system of local government and (in respect of  Woodford) power is invested in East Northamptonshire Council and Northamptonshire County Council. (Click Signpost for map). It is not to be confused with Woodford Halse which is approximately forty miles away in the west of the County near Daventry.

 When approaching by rail, the nearest Stations are Kettering or Wellingborough (Midland Mainline). A limited bus service is available to the village from Kettering. By car the easiest route is from the A14 and leaving at the junction with the A510 if travelling from the west and the A6116 junction if travelling from the east. From either junction the village is about two miles. River transport is a further option and the village is situated approximately half way along the controlled portion of the river. Woodford Lock is approximately one mile down stream and Ringstead Lower Lock about one and a half miles upstream. The long distance footpath - the Nene Way runs through the village as part of it’s route from Badby to Wansford.

What’s in a name?

The name Woodford immediately suggests that the village was named after a wood and a ford. The village still has a wood and a ford. The ford however, is more than a mile from where the settlement is most likely to have started (in the area now known as Church Street), and the wood (known locally as The Shrubbery) cannot be described as ancient woodland. Records suggest that it was planted around 1700. The village most likely was named after the wooded slopes of the valley that most probably existed 1000 years ago and possibly a ford across the river. (The Ancient Rockingham Forest extended to the River Nene at that time). The river was obviously not controlled and would have been bordered by marshland and reed beds. In the late 1950’s (prior to the river being dredged and subjected to ever increasing control) the Headteacher (at that time) took soundings of the river bed and found that there was a stretch just upstream from the church that was markedly shallower than other sections of the waterway. This may or may not have been an extension of the green lane (Ham Lane), which cuts across the fields from Ringstead and stops rather abruptly. No documentation, however, supports this theory.

A brief history

The oldest construction in Woodford is out to the west at one of the highest points in the parish. Near the parish boundary with Great Addington are some historic barrows. There is insufficient evidence to date them properly, however, they are thought to be Neolithic (c 3000BC). Known locally as Three Hills they are easy to see from the road.

During Saxon times (800-1000) a system of open fields was laid out. This later evolved in to a three-field system whereby crops were grown in two fields on a three year rota enabling a different field to remain fallow. Each villager would have had strips of land in each field and some would also have had grazing rights. Some of these strips of land became a series of low ridges caused by ploughing which mounded the soil to the centre of the strip causing a dip between each persons strip of land. There is still evidence of this type of farming in the Leys and can be viewed if one walks across the field from Newtown to either the end of Rose Terrace or Whittlesea Terrace.

Eventually it became apparent that this type of farming was inefficient and a series Enclosure Acts were passed by Parliament. This practice gained momentum during the reign of King George II (1727-60). The Woodford Enclosure took place in 1764 different areas of land were enclosed by hedges and fences and divided between 44 owners. A copy map of the field system is on display in the Church and also at the Northamptonshire Record Office. The original is at Boughton House.

The oldest buildings in the village are situated in Church Street close to the Church (which dates from Norman times) and are of medieval origin.

The village expanded slowly up the hill as far as the north of the village green. Records show that between the mid 1500s and early 1800s there was very little population change.

The High Street north of Eady's Row was built 1850 onwards with many properties on the east side being of limestone and having date stones. Properties on the west side of the High Street between Eady's Row and Newtown are of brick and are 1870 onwards. Properties between Constable Walk and Sunnyside are early 1900.

Whittlesea Terrace was constructed in the early 1900's and soon after Rose Terrace was also built.

Following the 2^nd World War the local housing authority built houses in West Street, Highfield and Mill Road.  Since the 1960’s other construction has taken place including Alledge Drive, The Moorings, The Shrubberies (Sheltered Housing) and De Capel Close together with numerous examples of “infill”.

For more details go to the history page.

Woodford’s Amenities

Woodford has both a Parish Church (Church Street) and a Baptist Church (Rose Terrace), both of which hold regular weekly services. The village also has a general store / Post Office, Fish and Chip Shop, Hairdressers and clothes shop. The Working Men’s Club is situated in Highfield and the premises also host the Football and Cricket clubs. The "Little Owls Pre-school" meets each morning during term time. The village school caters for children aged 4 to 11 years.

The Doctor’s Surgery in Thrapston Road, offers a “walk in first come first served” service each weekday between 9.00am and 10.30am, (no appointment necessary). 

The village has three public houses, two of which serve meals.

Further information see public buildings page.

The village also boasts Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Brownies and Rainbows. The former three meet in the Scout Hut (Bakers Lane) on Friday, Monday and Thursday respectively. The Brownies meet on a Friday evening at the village school and the Rainbows meet on a Wednesday also at the school.

Other groups include the Wine Circle, Dance Club and W.I.

Further details can be found on the organisations page.

River Nenn or Neen

The River Nene in Woodford, at least, is pronounced Nenn. This is the case along it’s length from somewhere between Thrapston / Oundle up to the source in the west of the County. Downstream of Oundle as the River meanders towards Peterborough, Wisbech (by this point it is tidal) and across the fens it is pronounced Neen. There are many suggestions as to the meaning of the name. One definition quoted is that the source is a series of Nine springs, but other sources (sic) suggest that it rises from two points, one near Arbury Hill (at 735 feet, the highest pointing the County) and near the Naseby Battlefield (English Civil War), not far from the source of the west flowing River Avon. These two streams meet near Northampton. 

The River is navigable from the sea (tidal to the Dog and Doublet, near Whittlesea), up to Northampton where there is access to the Grand Union Canal.

See also village structures.