Weekley Village
Villages Map << Weekley Warkton Grafton Underwood Geddington Newton Little Oakley Boughton House Click images for larger pictures	A Tour of Weekley Village The centre of the village of Weekley is noted for its thatched cottages. Entering from the north, there are two fine cob and thatch houses on either side of the cul de sac heading west, Wood Lane. The village Post Office is thatched and is also home to Jessica's Tea Shop, a pouplar meeting place for villagers, locals and visitors. With its picture postcard looks Weekley may be the most photographed Post Office in England.
Upper Farm The Old Vicarage	Across the green are, Upper Farm and the Old Vicarage, the latter, originally designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield, is now a nursing home for the elderly. To the right, behind the Post Office, are more thatched cottages in Wash Well Lane, so called as sheep dipping took place at the far end. Today this area is more noted for the stone effigy known as 'Stone Moses' thought to have been moved here on the instructions of Ralph, Duke of Montagu from the West Front of Boughton House, in 1696, at a cost of £1.6s.4d.
Corner Thatch	On proceeding north from the Green, on the left is Corner Thatch, which was the former Village Reading Room and Library, a tradition of village learning that dates back to 1624 when Nicholas Latham established a village school, further up Church Walk. The School House carries an inscription over its portal attesting to its origin. 'A Free School for Weekley and Werckton. Founded by Nicholas Latham, Clerke. Parson of Barnewell Saint Andrew. To Teach Theire Children to Write and Reade. Anno Domini 1624'
Village Hall	Opposite is the Village Hall, which was built by the Third Duke of Buccleuch at the end of the 18th century. Next to the church is the former Almshouse, Montagu's Hospital, which dates from 1611; it is now a private residence and remains one of the most beautiful smaller houses of the Stuart period in the country. Above the doorway there is the inscription 'What Thou Doest Do Yt In Fayth' and a large red painted square inw hich there is a sundial and Montagu coat of Arms with the date 1631.
	The entrance to Weekley Park is east of the Church. The Park is formally laid out and today is used for the grazing of sheep. It is open to walkers throughout the year and is the home to The Weekley and Warkton Cricket Club. Their Pavilion and Pitch are just to the South of the Park Gate. Top ^
The Church	The Church is dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Externally the Church is of the Perpendicular period (1350-1500), except for three items: The South Doorway is Norman (x. 1200) It is thought that this arch was the chancel arch of an earlier Church, and removed to its present position. There are two orders of shafts and a round arch with roll mouldings. One early lancet window of the 13th century is the north Wall of the Sanctuary. The west tower is of the Decorated Period (1250-1400). It has a short recessed spire and two tiers of lucarnes (ei. Windows in the spire). At the sill line of the lower tier is a band. A triple chamfered arch leads into the nave. The inside of the church is also of the Perpendicular period, although extensively restored in 1873 by Sir Arthur Blomfield, when the present chancel arch was added. The floor of the church, up to that date, was all on one level and made from Weldon stone, similar to that in nearby Warkton church. The arcades consist of three bays with piers of the Familiar section having four shafts and four hollows. They are similar to those in Kettering Parish Church. In 1962, the plastered interior of the church was redecorated using lime wash and Russian Tallow at a cost of £200. Care was taken not to colour wash any of the stone work.
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