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| Peter
Dean |
Officially
designated a settlement, Crowfield with just 25 houses, nestles
in the Northamptonshire countryside on a no through road at the
edge of ancient woods and near the source of the Great Ouse.
It
is a testament to a free and stubborn human spirit that Crowfield
has survived as a settlement since prehistory.
Placed
on two main routes, its position put it slap bang in the middle
of armed conflicts throughout the centuries, and on the frontier
of the local landed aristocracies conflicting interests.
There
is Archaeological evidence of an Iron Age settlement and Roman pottery
has been found in the village.
With
no resident squire, here is a settlement that has been allowed to
change with the times and developed with no overall great plan.
Lace
making
In
Late Victorian times Crowfield had three times the current population.
All the unplanned terraced housing has long gone and the agricultural
and lace making economy has given way to a diverse but still very
independent population.
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| Former
resident Briary Bill |
Crowfield
once boasted its own brickworks (which supplied the local area until
the late 19th century), a Methodist chapel and pub, none of which
survive today.
Before
the Second World War Crowfield was almost allowed to disappear.
Houses were demolished and not replaced.
Mains
electricity, water and sewerage only arrived in Crowfield in the
1950s after it was decided to allow Crowfield to be developed again.
The
Crowfield clanger
There
is a unique food attached to Crowfield which goes back to its agricultural
background called the Crowfield "clanger". It was suet filled with
bacon at one end and jam at the other, twisted in the middle and
baked - a main course and sweet course in one - and full of energy
giving!
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| Guthrie
Wrighton with his horse and cart collecting goods from Brackley
railway station |
No
great dignitaries or famous people have originated from Crowfield
but the place seems to have bred some great characters such as Briary
Bill and Guthrie Wrighton, a tradition carried through till today.
People
tend to stay resident for many years giving some stability to a
small settlement, and the village gets together on great events
and bonfire night and at Christmas.
Peter
Dean is the webmaster for the Crowfield
village web site which has more about the village, its
people, history and local services. The photos used on this
page are courtesy of the Peter Dean.
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external websites. |
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