HUXLOE HUNDRED 



LILFORD-WITII-WIGSTHORPE 



Lyllofordc (xiv cent.) ; W'ykenclliorp (xiii cent.) , 

 Wykyiigesthorpe (xiv cent.). 



This parish, though inchidod in the Hundred of 

 Hu.\loe, is locally situated in the Hundred of I'i)lebrook. 

 It lies on the east bank of tiie Nene, which is spanned 

 by a handsome stone bridge with fluted pilasters, 

 erected within a short distance of Lilford Hall in 

 1796. 



The hamlet of Wigsthorpe forms the eastern portion 

 of the parish, the road from Thrapston to Oundlc 

 running between it and I.ilford. 'I'hc few houses 

 which constitute the village are clustered round the 

 railway crossing in Wigstliorpe. In Bridges' time 

 I.ilford possessed a village of 12 houses and a church 

 dedicated to St. Peter, and the hamlet of Wigsthorpe 

 also held 12 houses. A fine soft spring of water to 

 the south of Lilford Park marks what was once the 

 centre of Lilford village. 



The greater part of the Lilford portion of tlic parish 

 is occupied by Lilford Park. Lilford Hall lies near 

 its western limit, and possesses an extremely charming 

 view, across the Nene, of Pilton with its old church 

 and manor house. The Hall is a fine example of 

 late Jacobean work built in 1635, this date appearing 

 on two great chimney stacks in the court at the back 

 of the house. The estate then belonged to the family 

 of Elmes, and it must have been William Elmes, who 

 succeeded in 1632 and died in 1641, who was the 

 builder. The three principal fronts are treated in the 

 traditional Jacobean manner, with niullioned windows 

 and gables, some of wliich are straight in outline and 

 some curved, the whole being disposed symmetrically; 

 but the entrance front has no projecting wings, its 

 line being only broken by a large semicircular bay 

 window of two stories at each end, and a porch of one 

 story in the middle. Wings project at the back and 

 form a kind of court. This general disposition is 

 indicative of the end of the Jacobean period. The 

 architectural treatment is quite simple, but none the 

 less satisfactory on that account. An unusual 

 feature is the grouping of many chimney flues in a 

 long straight row with separate shafts all joined 

 together at the top. The house stands well up above 

 the adjacent river Nene and has charming prospects. 

 Sir Thomas Powys, who purchased the property in 

 1 71 1, decorated the interior in the fashion of the 

 time. The upstairs drawing room retains its original 

 character, and the main staircase dates from this 

 period ; but the entrance hall and corridor appear 

 to have undergone alterations. There is one room, 

 the library, where the oak panelling and a handsome 

 oak chimneypiece of the early house still remain ; 

 otherwise the interior work is of the 1 8th century and 

 later. Relatively small but judicious additions have 

 been made by the present Lord Lilford. The stables 

 at the rear form part of the architectural grouping. 

 They are of the 1 8th century, simply but carefully 

 planned and they add to the interest of the general 

 arrangement. The gardens have been admirably 



laid out in modern times, and in conjunction with 

 much fine old timber, form an attractive setting to 

 the house. In aviaries attached to the house is a 

 collection of rare birds. 



The area of the parish is 1827 acres of land and 

 13 acres of water. The ground near the Nene is 

 liable to floods, and nowhere rises to much more than 

 200 ft. Tiie soil is clay ; the sub-soil clay and rock. 

 To the west of the Thrapston road it is good : to the 

 east of it, cold and inferior. The chief crops grown 

 are wlicat, barley and beans. The population in 

 1921 was 164.* 



The vicarage is annexed to the rectory of Achurch, 

 where the rector, the incumbent of the combined 

 churches, resides. 



The Public Elementary School (mixed) was built 

 about 1845 by Lady Lilford, and enlarged in 1866 by 

 Lord Lilford to hold 90 children. The children 

 attend from the adjoining parishes of Pilton and 

 Tliorpe Achurch. Barnwell Station, on the London 

 Midland and Scottish Railway, is just within the parish 

 boundary. 



In the time of King Edward the 

 MANOR Confessor, 5 hides in LILFORD were the 

 property of Thurchil, who held them 

 freely. They had probably been afterwards granted 

 to Walthcof, Earl of Huntingdon, who married 

 Judith, the Conqueror's niece. Judith continued to 

 liold in I086''' after the execution of her husband in 

 1075. Their eldest daughter and coheir Maud was given 

 in marriage by William to his Norman follower 

 Simon de St. Lis or Senliz, who was made Earl of 

 Northampton and Huntingdon, and after his death 

 she was married to David, later king of Scotland, who 

 became Earl of Huntingdon.' 



The overlordship followed the descent of the 

 earldom and honour of Huntingdon {see Fothering- 

 hay). 



The tenants in demesne were the Oliphants 

 (Olifard, Holyfard) who from being holders of land 

 in England under the kings of Scotland transferred 

 their allegiance to Scotland, becoming magnates and 

 peers there.^ Three branches of the family appar- 

 ently held lands within the counties of which the 

 King of Scotland was earl. The earliest member of 

 the family as yet found is Roger Oliphant who 

 witnessed a charter of Simon de St. Liz to St. Andrew's 

 Priory, Northampton, not later than 1108.^ In the 

 survey of the reign of Henry I (l 100-35) William 

 Oliphant was holder of 5 hides in Lilford of the king 

 of Scotland and was living about 1147.' He was 

 probably succeeded by David Oliphant godson of 

 King David of Scotland, who assisted at King David's 

 escape after the rout at Winchester in 1141.' It was 

 he probably who was attesting charters to 1 167.* 

 His successor was possibly William whose name 

 appears in these counties about this time.' Walter 

 Oliphant was given as a hostage by William of Scotland 

 in 1174'" and a William and his sister Agatha were 



' The poll books show there was one 

 freeholder in the paiish in 1705, Richard 

 Bailey, and that in 1831 the vicar, the 

 Hon. Fredk. Powys, clerk, the one free- 

 holder, resided at Achurch. 



* V.C.II. A'erihanii, i, 354J. 



■ Farrcr, Honours and Kntgbts' Fees^ ii, 

 296. 



♦ V.C.H. NoTlbants. i, 291. 

 ' Round, Feuil. Engl. 223-4. 



227 



" V.C.II. Norlhanis, i, 365*; ste ah 

 ibid. 291. 



' Farrcr, op. cit. 354. 



' Ibid. ' Ibid. 



'» Ibid. 355. 



