Hardingstone

Hardingstone is a village in Northamptonshire and while (for the moment) it retains much of its rural character, it is located within the Borough of Northampton. Strangely, the village character is enhanced by the existence of the busy A45 which effectively separates the village from the town. The famous Eleanor Cross sits within the original parish boundary, as does Delapré Abbey and its grounds. There are many listed and otherwise interesting buildings within the old heart of the village, including the former primary school, the Sun Inn, St Edmunds Church and numerous cottages and grander houses in Coldstream lane, The Green, Back Lane and the High Street.
The development of the village was dominated by the Bouverie family who owned Delapré Abbey; many members of the family are interred in a vault in the C.12 St Edmund’s church. This was because Delapré had no chapel after the dissolution of the monasteries.
Much of the old village is a conservation area, with many grade II listed buildings and several at Grade II*. The church is listed Grade A, and the Eleanor Cross (outside the conservation area) is Grade 1.
Despite conservation area status, the village is currently under threat from large scale and insensitive development planned on the southern edge of the village, from Warren Fields to the Newport Pagnall road. Please visit the Save Hardingstone Village website http://savehardingstone.wordpress.com/

For further information see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardingstone
http://www.northampton.gov.uk/info/200207/building_conservation_and_trees/1630/hardingstone_conservation_area
.