Thursday, November 4, 2010
about my village
he stretch of land comprising the present civic parishes of Paulerspury and Potterspury, was called in the Doomsday Book Pirie or Perye, and later on, Pury. The one part of it which forms the parish of Paulerspury was called "West Perey," to distinguish it from the other, which forms our parish, known then as East Perey or East Pury. East Pury took its present name, Potterspury, from one of the largest and oldest Potteries in these parts.
The village was originally called Pyrie or Estpirie (East Perey), derived from 'pyrige' meaning 'the place where pear tree grow'. Following the introduction of potteries in the 12th century the name was changed to Potters Perry or Potterspury. Several of these ancient potteries have been excavated in recent years.
The parish church is dedicated to St Nicholas and there has been a church on the site since at least 1087.
An Independent church was established in 1690 by the Rev Michael Harrison. The history of the Independents in the 18th century is largely bound up with the name John Heywood. He was an eccentric and remarkable man, described as tall and thin with a mean and slovenly appearance, mostly due to the neglect of his imprudent wife who remained outside the church for the first 28 years of their unsuitable marriage. However, he was held in high esteem by many including the Duke of Grafton, who allowed him to use his library.
The Dukes of Grafton resided at Wakefield Lodge from about 1748, when the 2nd Duke commissioned William Kent to design and build a house on the site of a hunting lodge in the Whittlebury Forest, about a mile south of Potterspury. Kent brought in Capability Brown to landscape the park, who for the first time used water in the landscape. Following the death of the 7th Duke in 1918 the estate was broken up and sold.
The parish church is dedicated to St Nicholas and there has been a church on the site since at least 1087.
An Independent church was established in 1690 by the Rev Michael Harrison. The history of the Independents in the 18th century is largely bound up with the name John Heywood. He was an eccentric and remarkable man, described as tall and thin with a mean and slovenly appearance, mostly due to the neglect of his imprudent wife who remained outside the church for the first 28 years of their unsuitable marriage. However, he was held in high esteem by many including the Duke of Grafton, who allowed him to use his library.
The Dukes of Grafton resided at Wakefield Lodge from about 1748, when the 2nd Duke commissioned William Kent to design and build a house on the site of a hunting lodge in the Whittlebury Forest, about a mile south of Potterspury. Kent brought in Capability Brown to landscape the park, who for the first time used water in the landscape. Following the death of the 7th Duke in 1918 the estate was broken up and sold.
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