TWO BOOKS ABOUT NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

Author: Derek Blunt

Extracts from the two pages about Helmdon in ‘Spires & Squires.’

‘Where the roads converge is the War Memorial alongside which is an American Memorial set up in honour of the American Servicemen who lost their lives when their plane crashed at nearby Astwell Castle Farm in 1943…………………

I was particularly interested in a stained glass window dated 1313 commemorating William Campiun a stonemason which shows him wielding his hammer

It was re-leaded in 1976/7 and is one of the very few English medieval windows to depict an artisan using the tools of his trade.’

When Derek Blunt retired in 2004 little did he imagine that he would write two new books about Northamptonshire – one featuring every parish church and the other taking the reader on a journey through the county visiting every village and town including many lost or shrunken settlements. HELMDON appears in both books.

Retirement meant the opportunity to enjoy his many hobbies including travelling, walking, painting and drawing and visiting beautiful buildings.

On the conclusion of one walk in the north of the county he sat in a village churchyard on a lovely sunny afternoon and sketched the church, a most relaxing end to the day. One sketch led to another and another and………until all the village churches and the main churches in the towns had been visited and a little of their history written down – the result – book number one:-

LANDMARKS – PARISH CHURCHES IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

Having lived and worked in Northamptonshire all his life he realised that there was so much more to discover. Most of us simply travel from A to B without really taking in or appreciating our surroundings. Derek decided to venture round the back lanes to see what lay hidden and as a result made many discoveries and waylaid many interesting people who were only too happy to talk about village life and its changes. In many instances the parish church is poorly supported and the chapel, public house, butcher, baker, general stores and post office have closed.

Northamptonshire is fortunate to have so many stately homes still surviving but sadly many have been demolished or converted into Hotels, luxury apartments or Conference Centres.

Although having worked on the project for more than six years and having travelled many thousands of miles the whole experience has been extremely satisfying and even addictive! The result is a new book entitled:-

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY OF SPIRES AND SQUIRES

A Big Book about Northamptonshire numbering almost 500 pages, it is case bound in burgundy, embossed in gold and has a full colour dust jacket and is illustrated with his own original pen and ink drawings plus lots of information from pre Roman to modern times, descriptions of our beautiful spires and fascinating details of the rise and sometimes demise of our county squires together with snippets of particular interest. An invaluable addition to the library of anyone interested in our county, its history and heritage.

Early comments have been very encouraging:-

“The book is a tremendous achievement.”

“A remarkable book which will delight us both for years to come….. ”

“It is marvellous and will be handed down in my family as a treasure.”

‘LANDMARKS’ has so far raised £650 for the work of the Churches Conservation Trust within Northamptonshire.

‘SPIRES AND SQUIRES’ is raising money for the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance who receive no government funding.