| Harlestone | |
Lower Harlestone |
|
|
Harlestone
Harlestone shown within Northamptonshire |
|
| Population | 420 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SP7064 |
| District | Daventry |
| Shire county | Northamptonshire |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Northampton |
| Postcode district | NN7 |
| Dialling code | 01604 |
| Police | Northamptonshire |
| Fire | Northamptonshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Daventry |
| List of places: UK • England • Northamptonshire | |
Harlestone is a small village and civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire in England. It is divided into two smaller settlements, Upper and Lower Harlestone. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 420 people.[1]
Lower Harlestone lies along the A428, with Upper Harlestone to the south-west and Northampton about a mile to the south-east. To the north-west of the village is the country estate of Althorp, Diana, Princess of Wales' family home. The estate still owns much of the land and many properties in the village.
A church dedicated to St Andrew, a primary school, a golf course[2] and a pub are in Lower Harlestone. Upper Harlestone had a post office until Spring 2008 and the village institute.
Harlestone Firs, a large wood and country park, lies just outside the village with a garden centre on the other side of the A428.
Harlestone House was a large country residence on the site of the golf club. It is thought to be the inspiration for Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. It is known she resided at the house for a period because letters have been discovered written from there. The house was demolished in 1940, although the impressive stables still remain and were developed for housing in the late 1990s.