Country: | England |
Official Name: | Pitsford |
Coordinates: | 52.3064°N -0.8927°W |
Population: | 671 |
Population Ref: | (2011) |
Unitary England: | West Northamptonshire |
Lieutenancy England: | Northamptonshire |
Region: | East Midlands |
Constituency Westminster: | Kettering |
Post Town: | Northampton |
Postcode District: | NN6 |
Postcode Area: | NN |
Dial Code: | 01604 |
Os Grid Reference: | SP7568 |
Static Image Name: | The Griffin Inn, Pitsford.jpg |
Static Image Caption: | The Griffin Inn, Pitsford |
Pitsford is a village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire in the United Kingdom. According to 2001 census, the parish's population was 636 people,[1] increasing to 671 at the 2011 census.[2]
The village's name means 'Peoht's ford'.[3]
Pitsford Water, which is used for fishing and sailing as well as storing water for the local area,[4] is north-west of the village, but only part of it lies within the parish.[5] Pitsford Airstrip is at Moulton Grange Farm.
The Historic England website contains details of a total of 15 entries for listed buildings in the parish of Pitsford, all of which are Grade II except for All Saints’ Church which is Grade II*.[6] These include:
Ironstone is quarried at Pitsford and was formerly transported by rail; the railway line is now part of the preserved Northampton & Lamport Railway which has its headquarters at Pitsford and Brampton railway station. From 1925 to 1965 the quarrying was to obtain iron ore. It began to the south of the road from the A508 to Pitsford and Brampton Station and worked its way eastward to the A508. From 1959 the quarry was on the east side of the A508. The stone was transported to the main railway by a standard gauge branch operated by steam locomotives. From 1925 to 1939 gannister was also obtained and this was taken from the western part of the quarry to the standard gauge branch by a short 2 foot gauge tramway with its own steam locomotive. Quarrying for the iron industry ceased in 1965 The quarry to the west of the main road was smoothed over as was the route of the branch railway by Spring 1967 but the quarry to the east of the A508 was later reopened for the obtaining of stone for road building, the stone being taken away by lorry. Steam quarrying machines were used at first but diesel machines were introduced from 1927 onwards. The steam machines were scrapped in 1958. Electric machines were also used from 1955.
20,000 trees have been planted on the later quarried area since 2002.[10]