The development...
In 1971 an Ordnance Survey plan of the area (SP 86 SW) shows no evidence of the soon to be built housing estate, it was just open fields and pastures. A 1983 plan (SP 86 SW) shows the original Phase One Rectory Farm estate (originally called Rectory Farm North), known by local residents as Rectory Farm 1 and the first few houses and flats of the soon to be built Phase Two Rectory Farm, known as Rectory Farm 2. Estate one was built by building company Bovis who won the tender to build the first 191 houses in the area.
Today not much of the original farm buildings remain except the barn and farmhouse. The barn dates back to 1843 and you can clearly see the initials I.W or J.W 1843 inscribed on the side of the building.
Today not much of the original farm buildings remain except the barn and farmhouse. The barn dates back to 1843 and you can clearly see the initials I.W or J.W 1843 inscribed on the side of the building.
Barn Inscription
If it is J.W then could this be a memorial to Rev. Joseph Walker who was Rector of Great Billing parish for many years erected after his death in January 1899? Coincidentally he was also the person who originally took out a mortgage of £970 to have the nearby farmhouse built.
Or could it be a memorial to the builder of the property, Thomas Walker?
After renovations the barn opened as a Community Centre in February 1982 and was always known or referred to by residents as 'The Barn'. Since its opening it has been used by clubs and societies as a function/meeting room and as a Polling Station, which is still the case today. During the early to mid 1980's when I was growing up in Rectory Farm I remember it being used as a Youth Club, a place you could go to meet friends, have a game of Pool and take part in activities. Before the barn was converted residents made use of a very small room in the nearby farmhouse.
As far as I can remember there has always been a playing field next to the barn, part of which is now the children's play area but when I was growing up it was once used as a cycle track where local children used to put on displays during 'Fun and Community' days.
Rectory Farm Lower School opened in September 1981 with room for 175 children but before this date most went to nearby Blackthorn Lower School. In 2017 it was renamed Rectory Farm Primary School.
In August 1983 a site for local pub The Barn Owl was set aside with building work to start a year later. This was to be the first Greene King owned pub in the Northampton area and there was a competition in the Northamptonshire Post newspaper to name it. The pub finally opened in November 1985 and due to the winning name two leading officials from the RSPB were invited to the opening. It was hailed as 'Britain's best new pub' in 1987 by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) where it won an award for design and architecture. For many years it was the heart of the community but in recent years usage dropped significantly which led to it closing in February 2016. Following a long, hard fought battle by local Councillors and residents to stop the building from being sold the owners of the property won and it became a Co-op store, opening in 2016/2017.
The building of the local supermarket was completed at the end of 1983, opening in 1984 and despite fears the new Co-op store nearby would replace it, it still thrives serving the community today.
As the population of Rectory Farm grew, open land at the bottom and behind Viscount Road was earmarked for further housing. The new housing development at the bottom of the road was finished in the mid-late 1990's and the new Bridleways development was finished in late 2009, the latter built on land that had once been set aside for allotments.
As far as I can remember there has always been a playing field next to the barn, part of which is now the children's play area but when I was growing up it was once used as a cycle track where local children used to put on displays during 'Fun and Community' days.
Rectory Farm Lower School opened in September 1981 with room for 175 children but before this date most went to nearby Blackthorn Lower School. In 2017 it was renamed Rectory Farm Primary School.
In August 1983 a site for local pub The Barn Owl was set aside with building work to start a year later. This was to be the first Greene King owned pub in the Northampton area and there was a competition in the Northamptonshire Post newspaper to name it. The pub finally opened in November 1985 and due to the winning name two leading officials from the RSPB were invited to the opening. It was hailed as 'Britain's best new pub' in 1987 by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) where it won an award for design and architecture. For many years it was the heart of the community but in recent years usage dropped significantly which led to it closing in February 2016. Following a long, hard fought battle by local Councillors and residents to stop the building from being sold the owners of the property won and it became a Co-op store, opening in 2016/2017.
The building of the local supermarket was completed at the end of 1983, opening in 1984 and despite fears the new Co-op store nearby would replace it, it still thrives serving the community today.
As the population of Rectory Farm grew, open land at the bottom and behind Viscount Road was earmarked for further housing. The new housing development at the bottom of the road was finished in the mid-late 1990's and the new Bridleways development was finished in late 2009, the latter built on land that had once been set aside for allotments.