| Culworth | |
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Culworth
Culworth shown within Northamptonshire |
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| Population | 488 (2001 census)[1] 505 (2010 est)[2] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SP5446 |
| - London | 73 miles (117 km) |
| Parish | Culworth |
| District | South Northamptonshire |
| Shire county | Northamptonshire |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Banbury |
| Postcode district | OX17 |
| Dialling code | 01295 |
| Police | Northamptonshire |
| Fire | Northamptonshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Daventry |
| Website | Culworth Village |
| List of places: UK • England • Northamptonshire | |
Culworth is a village and civil parish about 7 miles (11 km) north of Brackley in South Northamptonshire, England. Culworth is also about 7 miles (11 km) northeast of the north Oxfordshire town of Banbury.
The village stands on the brow of a hill about 540 feet (160 m) above sea level. The 2001 Census recorded a parish population of 488.[1]
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Culworth castle was built probably late in the 11th century.[3] All that remains is a circular ringwork enclosure and dry ditch.[3]
William de Culworth was sheriff of Hertfordshire and Constable of Hertford Castle in 1230 and 1234.[4]
The Danvers family held the manor of Culworth by 1643, when Samuel Danvers (1611–1683) was created a Baronet. The Danvers baronetcy became extinct with the death of Sir Michael Danvers, 5th Baronet, in 1776.
The Old Manor is a 17th century courtyard house.[5] Sir John Danvers, 3rd Baronet (1673–1744) had a large mansion built, but it has not survived.[5] There is a newer Danvers House that is reputed to include materials from the mansion, and certainly includes window frames that may date from about 1700.[5]
The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary the Virgin has north and south aisles with three-bay Norman arcades dating from about 1200.[6] Late in the 13th century the arcades were lengthened and the lower part of the west tower was built.[6] The upper part of the tower is Perpendicular Gothic[6] and therefore was built later.
By 1254 the Augustinian Canons Ashby Priory held "the spiritualities" of St. Mary's parish.[7] Early in the 14th century there was a dispute between Roger de Mussynden and Prior Adam of the Priory for possession of the advowson, which was settled in 1325 in favour of the Priory.[7]
Marble monuments to the Danvers family inside the church were erected in 1790.[5] of Northampton. The chancel was rebuilt in 1840 and the building was altered and refitted in 1880 to designs by the architect E.F. Law of Northampton.[5]
The tower has a ring of five bells.[8] One of the Newcombe family of bell-founders of Leicester[9] cast the oldest bell in 1612.[8] Henry I Bagley of Chacombe[9] cast the tenor bell in 1636.[8] Other bells were cast by Edward Hemins of Bicester[9] in 1741[8] and John Briant of Hertford[9] in 1806.[8] John Taylor & Co of Loughborough cast the treble bell in 1931.[8] St. Mary's has also a sanctus bell that was cast by an unidentified founder in about 1700.[8]
St. Mary's parish is a member of the Benefice of Culworth with Sulgrave and Thorpe Mandeville and Chipping Warden with Edgcote and Moreton Pinkney.[10]
The Rectory is a Gothic Revival house built in 1854.[5] It was enlarged and altered in 1869 to designs by E.F. Law.[5]
East of Danvers House is a Moravian Chapel that was built in 1810.[5]
After the extinction of the Danvers baronetcy Meriel Danvers, a spinster of the family, endowed Danvers Free School in 1789 and it was built in about 1795.[5] It is now Culworth Church of England Primary School.[11]
Westhill House is 17th century with 18th century additions, and has a 17th century barn and granary.[5]
The Great Central Main Line to London was built through the neighbouring parish of Moreton Pinkney. In 1899 a station was opened in Moreton Pinkney parish, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from Culworth and only 3⁄4 miles (1.2 km) from Moreton Pinkney village. However, there was already a Morton Pinkney railway station so the Great Central Railway called the new one Culworth railway station.
In 1900 the GCR opened a branch from Culworth Junction on the main line just over a mile north of the station to Banbury. It passed through Culworth parish just west of the village and in 1913 the GCR opened a halt for the village. As the company already had a Culworth railway station it called the new halt Eydon Road Halt.
British Railways closed the halt in 1956 and Culworth station in 1958, closed the line through Eydon Road in 1966 and subsequently had both railways dismantled.
Culworth has one public house, the Red Lion.