Discover Potterspury

Potterspury combines a long history of pottery with historic houses, a church and a mill. These varied themes give you concrete points of reference for considering the village as a destination for a stay.

Pottery Tradition and Village Map

Pottery-making in Potterspury is first documented in 1287. Several medieval and post-medieval pottery kilns have been discovered in and around the village. The pottery history covers more than one area: a pottery quarter lay at the western end of the village, while established pottery areas were located to the east, in the Woods and Church Lane area. Thus, the early date on record and the later archaeological finds offer different ways of exploring the local pottery tradition.

An interactive map titled “A tour around our village” offers another starting point. Its numbered markers can be clicked to learn more about each place. You can select individual markers to explore specific aspects of the village’s history.

Factory Row and St Nicholas Church

Factory Row is a row of eight cottages built in 1840. The Duke of Grafton had them built as homes for estate workers. It is thought that the row’s alternative name comes from the fact that most of its residents were once lace-makers. Here, architectural history meets a possible explanation rooted in the residents’ former working lives; this explanation remains an assumption.

St Nicholas Church is the oldest building in Potterspury; its oldest parts date from the 12th century. The north arcade is dated to the 13th century, while the south arcade and tower date from the 14th century. An arcade is a series of arches. The different dates also make the church interesting from an architectural-history perspective: the oldest parts and later additions belong to clearly distinct centuries.

The tower houses five bells; the oldest dates from the 15th century. The building’s history therefore reaches further back than the oldest bell, and the church can be explored both through its architectural features and through this individual historical detail.

Mill, Meadow and Practical Information

A mill has stood on the site of Potterspury Watermill since the Middle Ages, powered by water from the village stream. Potterspury Mill ground grain until the 1950s; today, the building is a private home. Its former use and current state belong to different phases of its history.

Mill Pond Meadow Conservation Area also has a history as a body of water: about half of the present area was once a pond. The approximate figure matters, as it describes part of the area rather than its entire extent.

Cottage Stores is on Potterspury’s central High Street and comprises a convenience store, a newsagent, a sweet shop and grocery store, and a post office; check before travelling to see whether these services are currently available. Check the current availability of these services before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Towcester, Hartwell, Brackley, Oundle, Hardingstone, Desborough, Staverton, Ashby Saint Ledgers

For the regional travel overview: Northamptonshire.