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| The Collector and Local Historian Fred Golby's early life began in Alma Street, St James. He came to live in the new Mildway Nurseries in 1947, soon after this, his interest in Local History began, and portrayed here is part of his 50 year long collection of photographs. Since its inauguration, some 25 years ago, he has been a member of the Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeological Group. |
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Introduction to Upton Upton parish land of almost 1,000 acres will soon be part of the expanding Northampton, with its easy access to the MI and the rail link. This is a history of the old village that included Berrywood, originally a farm on the estate. The Hall dates back to Monastic times. In the 250 years of the Samwells' history at Upton, the family showed their loyalty to the crown as royal sequestrates, firstly helping capture the conspirators in this county in the Gunpowder plot and later holding the same authority during the restoration of Charles II. Today the church of St. Michael is in the hands of the Churches Conservation Trust who keep the fabric of the church in good order. When the building was closed in 1980 for worship a group of people formed the Friends of Upton Church, under the then Archdeacon, the Venerable Basil Marsh, to care for the interior, and have an annual Dedication and Harvest Festival service, which occurs at the end of September. It was realised at the end of 1980 that this west side of Northampton would sooner or later be developed for housing. So all the valuable artefacts of St. Michael's organ, font, brass lantern, have been taken to other churches, and used until such times as they are again needed, and returned. Quinton House School who occupy the Hall now use the Church for occasional services for the pupils, and have given wonderful help in keeping the church clean and presentable for visitors. 150 years ago the entire acreage of the Estate consisted of four farms. Now the Spokes families continue to farm most of the land from Duston Mill and Lodge Farm. F. Golby |
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Introduction To History of Duston and
St. James This is a History of Duston and St. James. The first part of this book was written by the late Ray Lag, den who was the son of Alfred Lag, manager of the extensive Nurseries in Duston from 1888 to 1939, for many years Ray researched into the early History of the Parish before the last war, at that time accessibility to parish people then living, plans, photography, Melbourne connections, former estate agents etc. were at his disposal. All his writings have been put together with his brother's permission and they make absorbing reading of the early days of the old village of Duston. I have added my history of the larger houses and their residents of former times. Also the industrial life of Old Duston: - the Iron ore extractions, New Duston with its valuable building stone pits, the very large Hopping Hill brickworks, the famous Fossetts Circus, St. James with its large boot and shoe works. The Trams, Franklins Gardens, the industrial railways of Duston and St. James etc. It is not easy to look back over a long period of time and visualise the day-to-day life of ordinary working people, to whom each year was a question of working long hours to survive and bring up a family. The insecure tenant farmer subject to the lord of the manor's demands and the iniquitous tithing eventually resulted in large immigration to Canada from Duston at the turn of the century. The old customs that still survived until the first war: the feasts, the thankfulness of a harvest, cut and reaped by hand, Candlemas, Plough Monday, The beating of the bounds (the blessing of the crops) all were part of the seasons, the countryman's life and his affinity to the Church, but great changes were coming to this parish, as the town of Northampton slowly expanded into it. Men walked miles each day to work in the Shoe factories. Iron ore firms employed and created a better-paid work force. After Althorpe Station was opened, huge quantities of "Ryland" Duston stone was sent away for building trade, greatly adding to the demand for this best quality of Northamptonshire sandstone. Town Mills, powered by steam, helped to bring to an end the old village water mills. Many of the millers towards the latter part of the 19th century installed steam engines into their mills to supplement the waterpower. F. Golby |
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