Northborough: Village History and Medieval Architecture

Northborough combines a historically shaped village centre with traces from very different eras. The Northborough Conservation Area covers the historic centre of the village. Buildings in the Northborough Conservation Area include examples made from Barnack ragstone; roofs include both Collyweston slate and thatch. Stone and varied roofing materials give the village several distinct features. The buildings offer a tangible starting point for understanding the village’s history.

The Manor House and the church: medieval traces

Northborough Manor House was built between 1330 and 1340 by the de-la-Mare family. A hall and a gatehouse survive from the house. The gatehouse contains the original spiral staircase, which is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument. These details offer different perspectives on the building: its date and connection with the de-la-Mare family tell the story of its origins, while the hall, gatehouse and staircase identify the surviving parts. For architecture enthusiasts, the distinction between the building’s construction date and the parts that have been preserved is especially illuminating.

The Church of St Andrew also has a distinctive medieval feature: its large south chapel was built around 1330–1350. Mrs Oliver Cromwell is buried beneath the chapel. Northborough’s churchyard lies across the lane from the church. The relationship between the church and churchyard provides a clear point of orientation in the village centre; the chapel’s history adds another perspective on Northborough’s medieval buildings. The dates for the Manor House and the chapel partly overlap, but refer to two different buildings and their respective construction phases.

Traces from later centuries

Clare House offers another link between architectural and literary history: the cottage dates from the 18th century, and the poet John Clare lived there for ten years. This extends the timeline beyond the medieval buildings. Those interested in the different chapters of the village’s history can therefore explore Northborough not only through its oldest named buildings, but also through a place associated with a poet.

The history of settlement goes back even further. Evidence of settlements from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman periods can be found throughout the village. Archaeological excavations in Northborough also uncovered a flint tool, pottery and animal bones thousands of years old. Taken together, the widely distributed evidence of settlements from several periods throughout the village and the specific excavation finds paint a picture of Northborough’s history that reaches far beyond its visible buildings.

Combine history with walks

Northborough’s paths and riverbanks are suitable for an evening walk. This offers a different way to spend your stay from exploring the historic buildings: the walk focuses on the paths and riverbank, while the Manor House, St Andrew’s and Clare House represent different chapters in the village’s history. You can consider which themes you would like to shape your stay without combining these options into a single route.

When looking for holiday accommodation in Northborough, the focus you want can guide your choice of destination. Are you most interested in medieval architecture, the long history of settlement or the connection with John Clare? Or would you like to include the paths and riverbanks in an evening walk? These different interests can help you form a concrete idea of what you would like to discover in Northborough. The village thus brings together several historical points of interest and an option for a walk; which of these matters most to you depends on what you want to focus on during your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ufford, Wansford, Peterborough, Barnack, Helpston.

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