The 2001 census[1] recorded 285 people living in the village: 144 male, 141 female in 123 dwellings with a further 3 homes empty and further 3 second or holiday homes. At the 2011 census the population (including Foscote hamlet) was recorded as 311.[3]
Geography
Abthorpe parish is within a rolling rural landscape, typical of South Northamptonshire. It lies mostly on the south side of the River Tove, but the southern part of the parish is on the north side of Silverstone Brook, a tributary of the Tove, which it joins in Towcester. The lowest point in the parish is about 308 feet (94 m) above sea level,[4][5] and the highest point is at 486 feet (148 m) at the divide between the Tove and the River Great Ouse.[6][7]
Abthorpe Parish
The neighbouring parishes are Wappenham, Towcester, Silverstone, Slapton and Bradden, and the boundary is about 9.75 miles (15.69 km) around, enclosing 1,964 acres (795 ha) of land.[6][8]
The main village area itself makes up less than 1% of the parish, and all buildings included still adds up to less than 2%. The majority of fields are grass, covering around 54%, used mainly for sheep and cows, but horses are also kept. Wheat and to a lesser extent barley make up about 21% of the land usage, woodland covers another 20%. This is almost all Bucknell Wood which covers the elevated part of the parish, and is part of the Whittlewood Forest.[9]
History
The villages name means 'Abba's outlying farm/settlement'.[10]
Abthorpe had a medieval deer park. This is likely to have been Bucknell Wood, which has the rounded outline characteristic of such a park. On 20 December 1537 Sir William Parr reported to Thomas Cromwell that:
On Monday night last about 30 persons, 20 of whom were well horsed, came to Lord Mountjoy's park at Abthorpe, killed almost all the deer and took and bound one of Ric. Cecile's servants dwelling in Abthorpe. As Abthorpe is 24 miles from Parre's house, Sir Humfrey Stafford, who sent him word of it, caused his son to follow them. Such a thing was never done in these parts since he knew them. In his opinion it deserves great punishment. Asks whether he shall search in the adjoining shires for the procurers.[14]
The next day Parr updated Cromwell:
According to his letter, dated 21st inst., has endeavoured to find out the persons who made the spoil in Lord Mountjoy's park at Abthorpe. Can get no perfect knowledge but that Sir John St. John,[15] Sir John Parkar, and Sir Robt. Kirkham are suspected. Sends the confession of one Thos. Bright, who was sent to gaol at Northampton on St. Thomas day[16] before Christmas.[17]
The oldest part of the village school was built in 1642 by local landowner, Jane Leeson, during the English Civil War.[12] It is now the village hall.[18]
Abthorpe was part of the Grafton Estate.[19] Charlock Farmhouse, Foscote House and Hill House were all built for the estate in about 1840.[12]
^'Henry VIII: December 1537, 15-25', Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII(12) Part 2: June–December 1537 (1891), pp. 430–443. Retrieved 25 November 2009
^From: 'Henry VIII: December 1537, 26-31', Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII, Volume 12 Part 2: June–December 1537 (1891), pp. 443–481. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
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