Grafton Underwood
Villages Map Weekley Warkton << Grafton Underwood Geddington Newton Little Oakley Boughton House Click images for larger pictures Remembrance service	A Tour of Grafton Underwood Village Heading towards Grafton Underwood from Geddington, the north face of Boughton House can be seen on the right through a fenced gap in the stone wall. Further along the road, on the left, is a memorial to the US units who were stationed at Grafton airfield during the Second World War. The airfield was built in 1941 and was where the first and last bombing raid by the American Eighth Air Force in Europe took off from. The memorial stands at the end of what was once the main runway, and on both sides of the road to Brigstock are the remains of the Airforce base, where ruined buildings can be seen in the woods. A pleasant walk in the woods takes you to what would have been the main centre of the barracks and where there was a cinema for the airmen.
	On entering Grafton Underwood there are two (joined) thatched cottages on the right, these are late 17th/early 18th century.
	Top ^
	Further along, also on the right, is Spring Cottage. This cottage originally had an ‘upstairs’ (as can be seen by the windows), but the first floor was removed when the inside was renovated, this was because the ceilings were far too low for anyone to live comfortably. Opposite Spring Cottage is a stone well head.
	On the main street of the village, facing south, the stream is on the right of the road and the majority of the stone cottages are on the left. However, many of the original barns to the right of the stream have now been converted to living accomodation.
Dukes Arms Farmhouse	On the right is the Dukes Arms Farmhouse which is 17th century in origin. Here, on the grass by the stream, cream teas are available on Sunday’s during August. Further up on the left is the village post office and shop. Top ^
The Manor House	Still further, past a string of mainly 17th and 18th century cottages is the Manor House, dated 1653. Next to the Manor House is an old barn which is due to be converted to living accomodation.
One of the original farmhouses	Past the Manor house and more thatched cottages (18th century) is a narrow lane on the right, leading to a small group of cottages set back from the main road. Some of which are thatched and some are converted barns. This area is where one of the four farms in the village was located. The former farmhouse is now a private home. Top ^
	Heading back to the north end of the village, on the left behind the stream is the old school house, now a private home, but originally built in 1853 by the then Duke of Buccleuch.
	Set back behind the stream, is the church of St James. The earliest parts are 12th century, with a 13th century tower and a 14th century spire. A stained glass window at the church is dedicated to the 384th(H) Bombardment Group of the 8th US Airforce, which was stationed at Grafton Airfield during World War II. In the vestry is a record of Thomas Carley, 1757-1825. He was born without hands, yet went on to be the local schoolmaster and parish clerk. He learned to write by holding a pen in his teeth and managed to write beautiful copper-plate writing. By the church is the large Rectory which dates from 1868 (a private home).
	Top ^
	Continue to walk along the path to the left of the stream, alongside a stone wall and shaded by overhanging trees, and there is another small group of cottages on the left.
	Carry on walking by the stream and you come back to the Dukes Arms Farmhouse. Top ^