Helmdon Branch WEA – Houses in the Landscape

Helmdon Branch WEA
Charity reg. no: 1112775

Houses In The Landscape

Number of Sessions: 10 click for general course information

Course Outline:

Northamptonshire is often described as the county of spires and squires. The course does not deal with spires as such but, though looking at churches in relation to the houses, concentrates more on the house in which the squires, though many of them belonged not to the squirearchy but to the aristocracy, lived. Although most of the houses were in existence prior to the mid-16C all of them were extended and enlarged from that date onwards. How and why they have become ‘grand’ houses is examined by looking at their plans and some photographs of their interiors if somewhat briefly. The influence of the House their owners on the landscape around the houses, not necessarily in the immediate vicinity, will be considered. Also to be considered, when looking at the individual houses, is the effect that the surrounding landscape had on the ‘grand’ house itself.

No consideration is given to what might popularly be termed ‘upstairs/downstairs/Downton Abbey’ in relation to the house nor its interior except as part of the importance of the house and then only briefly.

There is no field trip connected with the course. All of the houses considered are open to the public at some time or other and details of where to find this information will be given as will a reading list for further individual study.

Session 1.

This session will be an introductory lecture to consider the parameters of the study and other matters general to the course. It will look at the various component parts of the landscape, define ‘open’ and ‘closed’ villages, look at the topography of a settlement, deal with the limits of the study including geographical limits, date parameters, sources of evidence such as maps, natural geography of the area, derivation of names, buildings including their division into primitive, vernacular, polite and polite/vernacular, materials of build and how they identify change and the limitations on evidence of landscape study.

Session 2.

Apethorpe Hall, the first house to be considered, is situated in the settlement of the same name. Its grandest time occurred from about the third quarter of the 16C to the middle of the 17C though it continued as an aristocratic residence until the mid-20C. The period just quoted will form the basis of the session. It is a Grade 1 starred building and its architectural importance is of the highest quality though unfortunately some of the owners during the late 20C allowed it to deteriorate. It is now in the ownership of English Heritage and is undergoing extensive renovation.

Session 3.

This session will look at Boughton House near Kettering. It is the only ‘ducal’ seat in the county and along with Althorp and Castle Ashby is perhaps in the top three of the ‘grand’ houses. It is still lived in today. Considerable attention will be given to the Montagu family and their control on the surrounding settlements of Weekley, Warkton and Grafton Underwood which is still very much in evidence to this day and as is shown by the family tombs and memorials in the parish churches of the first two villages. The session will look at all three villages.

Session 4.

If there is one fact that most people know about Deene Park it is its association with the Battle of Balaclava. Yet there is much more of interest to the House and its surrounds. Another fact is that it is still lived in by the same family after nearly 500 years. It might be thought that this fact would have led to the house not having changed over those years. Yet things have changed and the house and its surrounds mirror the passing years providing a useful commentary on a house in the landscape.

Session 5.

There is a rhyme which asks why treason doth never prosper. The answer is that if it does none dare call it treason. Rushton Hall and the buildings associated with its 16C owner examine the meaning of the word and also the complex character of that owner.

Session 6.

With Kirby Hall there is, though it is in ruins, much to compare it with Deene Park. Indeed its very grandeur resulted from a desire of its first major owner to attract a visit from Queen Elizabeth I. What is left now is still fabulous and well-worth considering in depth to see what was built both by a country gentleman and later by a dilettante favourite of that queen. Its situation is also of historic importance.

Session 7.

The estate of Lamport Hall once included both what is now a deserted settlement and also one which is depopulated. It was not grand in the sense that Royalty visited it but nevertheless it must feature in any list of imposing houses in the county. Quite apart from looking at the immediate settlement surrounding the house it is worthwhile examining both the deserted one and the depopulated one and the reasons for desertion and depopulation.

Session 8.

Religion is the raison-d’être for Canons Ashby House. The Augustinian Priory, now an Anglican church, is studied and looked at how it must have dominated, and still dominates the landscape thereabouts. But the House, once an ordinary farmhouse, is examined and looked at as a contrast to the Priory. The Dryden family lived there shortly after the Reformation, they were not the original post-Reformation owners, until in 1982 when the then Dryden owners gave the property to the National Trust. This body has carried out extensive renovations to the house and grounds some of which is on-going to the present time.

Session 9.

Of all the houses studied Kelmarsh Hall is the only one completely built from scratch. Although there had been a Hall in Kelmarsh nonetheless this was demolished and the present Hall constructed in the early 18C. The session looks at the settlement that was there and is now deserted and how the Hall dominates the landscape thereabouts.

Session 10.

Southwick Hall maybe the smallest of the houses examined but nonetheless even for that it is one of the most interesting and oldest building having being started in the 12C. Throughout that period there have only been three families who have owned it. The session looks at how these families have shaped the house and also the landscape around about. Also looked at is how the physical siting of the House and village have played an important role in the development of the area. The Capron family who purchased the estate in the 1840’s were ‘squarsons’ being both squires and parsons.

There is no field trip associated with this course.