Farndish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Farndish | |
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| Population | 40 (2001) |
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| OS grid reference | |
| District | Beford |
| Shire county | Bedfordshire |
| Region | East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NORTHAMPTON |
| Postcode district | NN29 |
| Dial code | 01933 |
| Police | Bedfordshire |
| Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Bedford |
| European Parliament | East of England |
| List of places: UK • England | |
Farndish is a very small and rural village in northwest Bedfordshire - but located very close to the Northamptonshire county border and is to be found near:
The name of the village means fern-clad pasture.
It is part of the Harrold ward and is located in the Bedford local authority in East of England region.
Much property in the area is owned by the Saxby family - once famous locally for their pork pies and pastry.
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[edit] Historically
According to "A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831" Farndish is a parish in the Hundred of Willey, and the county of Bedford, 4½ miles (S.W. by S.) from Higham-Ferrers, containing 73 inhabitants. The church living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books at £10. C. Chester, Esq. was patron in 1784.
Farndish was mentioned in the Doomsday Book as 'Fernadis'.
[edit] Village facilities
Apart from the fine Norman church (see below) there are no other facilities to be found in the village.
[edit] The church
The church of St Michaels & All Angels appears to have been built sometime between 1180 and 1210. The masonry used to build the church is mainly local rubble along with some rust-coloured ironstone; the window dressings are of local limestone.
The tower was added in the 15th century within the nave and houses three bells:
- Treble - cast by Christopher Grave - 1663
- Second - cast by James Keene - 1625
- Tenor - cast by Newcombe - 1597
The font dates to circa 1200 and is crowned by a 17th century wooden cover - this is itself covered in 19th century inscriptions and patterns. The very low pitched roof still has its original 15th century timberwork.
According to "Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898", the church is "a small building of stone, in the Transitional, Early English and later styles, consisting of chancel, nave and a low western tower rising within the nave, and containing 3 bells : the south doorway is a rich example of the Transitional Norman style : a beautiful stained east window was presented by the late Mr. W. H. S. Adcock, of this village, one on the south side by the Rev. Greville Chester, late rector, and there are several other stained windows : in the chancel is a small brass to John Johnston, rector (ob. 1625), being then nearly 100 years old; and there are also inscriptions to the Clark, Adcock and Alderman families : the church plate includes an ancient chalice : there are 69 sittings. The register dates from the year 1587."
- The parish records for the church and village are available on microfiche for the period 1550-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
- Since 1970, the Church has been redundant but remains consecrated; since 1974 it has been maintained by the Redundant Churches Fund and the donations of visitors. Repairs to the Church have been carried out for the fund by the Bedford architect Victor Farrar.
- There is a healthy population of bats living in the belfry of the church.
[edit] HE Bates connection
The local author HE Bates often would come through the village on his nocturnal walks in the 1920s and 1930s. It was on one of the night walks that he got the inspiration for his first novel The Two Sisters when he saw a light burning in one of the cottage windows.
Apart from this brush with a famous author, the modern world and history has largely ignored the village.
