Old Weston Village History -
An introduction
Our knowledge of the village history goes back to Roman times when a settlement is known to have existed near Cockbrook Lane.
Old Weston was first noted in the King’s charter of 974. The actual name of the village has changed several times over the centuries from Weston, Wald Weston, Woldweston, Weston-upon-Brouneswold, but it has continued to be known as Old Weston since the 16th century. The church was listed in the Domesday Book but has been largely rebuilt since then.
The layout of the village was changed by a fire in 1701 that destroyed the houses near St Swithin’s church which formed the main part of the village. Other than the church, the timber-framed Model Farm, built at the beginning of the 17th century is the oldest existing building in the village and is believed to have been built on the site of a manor house.
The ‘manor’, which was referred to in the archives as early as
1086, was given to Ramsey Abbey.
Along the Main Street there are other timber-framed properties dating
from the 17th century. These are the pink cottage ‘1622’ (left) and
Home Farm’ which at one time was known as Hospital Farm.
Hospital Farm was believed to have once been the property of Parson Latham's Hospital in Barnwell (Northamptonshire). A post windmill once stood at the corner of the road to Leighton Bromswold near the lane to Foxholes Farm.
The Methodist Chapel built in 1839 caused some consternation according to church records in 1921 when the vicar wrote:
‘… the existence of a Chapel tends to create strife and ill-will … at any rate Old Weston is particularly uncivilised.’
Other public buildings served the various needs of the community
throughout the village history, for instance in 1887 the Oddfellows
Hall was built and in the 1863 Kelly’s Directory the village school is
mentioned. In 1885 the school was described as being able to
accommodate 100 children being supported by an endowment and public
subscription.
Through information collated by the Census we can see how the
population has fluctuated, various businesses that have existed and
occupations that the villagers have held. Farming has been a major
source of employment in the area and we know that at one time in Old
Weston there were 4 pubs within the village, a shop with a post office,
bakery and butchery, and a blacksmiths.
Molesworth Airfield is a dominant feature of the area and was preceded by another airfield constructed in WW1. A hospital was also sited south of the village to support the military base during the war years.
Within and around the village there have been many changes - of buildings, businesses, occupations and various comings and goings. The hospital, windmill and Oddfellows Hall no longer exist, and most of the other businesses and public buildings mentioned here have closed or been adapted to become houses whilst others have been established.
Time never stands still and we are keen to continue to add to the information that we have to build a picture of the social history of the village. If you have any memories, information or photos of events, people, and building development around the village that you would be willing to share, do please get in touch.
Convicts transported to Australia - read this story of dastardly deeds from the early 1800's!
Past Parish Council news makes amusing reading.
