The Former Rectory
The former rectory in Church Street was built in approximately
1820. Remnants of the former Manor House on the Warren Hill at
the east end of Church Street are thought to be incorporated into
the building. The porch on the southwest frontage being a former
side porch of that once prominent Manorial property. (A larger version of
the porch can be found on the Parish Church of Melchbourne,
Bedfordshire) The first Rector to live in the house was Rev
Wiliam Lashmar Battley. He was Rector of Woodford from
1817. His wife did in 1849 and he died at the age of 73 after
nearly 40 years as Rector on 30th October 1856. He was succeeded by Rev Smyth in 1856, who was
responsible for the major restoration of the Church and indeed
paid personally for the Chancel restoration. When Rev
Smyth resigned the living at Woodford a large number of items from
the house were sold demonstrating the palatial interiors country
rectories held. The advertisement read as follows.
Northampton Mercury 5 July 1884
Woodford Rectory, about 2 miles from Thrapston
"Important and attractive sale of
Household furniture, oil paintings, engravings, books, china and
glass, wagonette, bedding and hot house plants and miscellaneous
outdoor effects.
Henry H Bletsoe is favoured with
instructions from the Rev Christopher Smyth who is leaving the
neighbourhood, to sell by auction on Wednesday and Thursday 9th
and 10th July 1884. The elegant antique and modern
household furniture and effects comprising;
In the dining room. Set of mahogany
dining tables with shifting leaves; mahogany arm and other
chairs, invalid chair, with wire spring, in leather; handsome
mahogany sideboard, fender, fireirons and ashpan, fire screed,
sofa bagatelle board, engravings, carpeting to room, mahogany
four tier whatnot etc.
In the drawing room: shaped steel
fender and fireirons, china case with glazed folding doors and
sides and handsomely carved and inlaid oak back; collection of
Florentine china, alabaster statuette, oak, loo, work and other
tables, worked ottoman music stool, ditto fender stool, two
antique occasional chairs, tree French medallions, scriptural
scenes, couch in green Utrecht velvet; mahogany occasional,
dwarf, easy and other chairs, curtain pole and crimson damask
curtains and pair of chintz curtains, handsome chimney glass, oil
painting, water colours, carpeting to room etc.
In the inner drawing room: Antique mahogany table, large handsome carved oak cabinet with beautifully carved panels, five of which are deeply sunk, date 1663; handsome carved oak cabinet with folding doors, pillars, and carved panels; curtain pole and pair of chintz curtains, wok basket, paintings etc.
The Bedrooms include mahogany, Arabian and iron bedsteads, and hangings, paillasses, mahogany and painted single and double washstands and ware, dressing tables and glasses, mahogany and painted wardrobes, with sliding shelves and hanging closets; chests of drawers, secretaire, tables, chairs carpeting, fenders and fireirons ornaments etc.
About 20 lots of sundry books, an assortment of kitchen and scullery requisites.
The outdoor effects comprise a wagonette with a moveable hood, by Mulliner; harness and stable utensils; three lawnmowers, garden chair, wheelbarrows iron roll, firewood, bedding and hothouse plants, garden tools and other articles, to be viewed on Tuesday 8th July by ticket only to be obtained from the auctioneer. Catalogues may be had one week prior to the sale at the auctioneer’s offices Thrapston.
Sale to commence each day at twelve o clock precisely."
The grounds for the rectory were extensive
as shown below reaching from opposite Woodford Rise to the end of
Church Street and for a large part of the garden the river formed
the southern boundary. The gardens were frequently opened
formally for villagers, at times of the feast, for fundraising,
tennis competitions, the swimming club and also as a location for
the annual horticultural show.
Other Rectors who resided in the property
were:
1884 Rev John Theed Watson
1911 Rev Gerard Markby Davidson
1933 Rev Basil Eversley Owen
1956 Rev Louis de Casabianca
1980 Rev Michael Charles Prentice
Rev Prentice was the last Rector to reside
in the Old Rectory. The Rector and his wife as a pastime reared
rare breeds specialising in goats but also kept other livestock
including pigs, sheep and fowl.
The property deteriorated and frequently
featured in the Kettering Evening Telegraph letters column. In
the book “Wanderers in Northamptonshire, the Second Journey”, by
John and Vera Worledge, the scene is described as follows “...
walking down the lane near the church, (we) witnessed an amazing
scene at the farm. The lady of the farm, Mrs Prentiss (sic), was
feeding her animals – a marvellous sight, with ducks, sheep,
goats, hens, guinea fowl and a wonderful collection of goats. She
is doing a fine job of reviving old and nearly extinct breeds of
both sheep and goats.”
The Daily Telegraph made mention of the
premises on more than one occasion
Rev Prentice resigned wef 1 March 1994 (The
Times) in disagreement with the ordination of women.
The property was purchased by local
businessman later in 1994 who set about restoring the property
and garden.
In 1995 a new Rectory was built (4a Church
Street) and Rectors included Rev Gillian Jessop, Rev Judith
Stobart (2003) and Rev Canon Peter Gompertz. This Rectory was
sold by the Diocese in 2017. There is presently no Rectory in
Woodford.
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