Discover Whittlebury

Whittlebury brings together architectural history and archaeological traces with golf and spa facilities at Whittlebury Park. These themes are quite distinct and can be weighted according to the purpose of your trip.

Architectural history and archaeological traces

The Whittlebury War Memorial stands on a village green and is listed as a Grade II building. It dates from 1920. The Grade II listing denotes its heritage protection status; the year independently identifies when it was created. Compared with the medieval architectural elements of St Mary's Church, the memorial represents a more recent layer of the village's history.

The church and the lower part of the tower were built around 1200. The 13th-century tower houses a peal of five bells. Thus, early architectural elements and a tower from a later century coexist in the same church building. St Mary's Church stands on a prominent ridge in the north-western part of the parish of Whittlebury.

The Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was built in 1763. South Northamptonshire Council classifies it as a building of historical and/or architectural significance. It extends the view beyond the church's medieval building phases with a clearly dated 18th-century building.

The large oval enclosure at Whittlebury is identified as an Iron Age hillfort and appears to have been used into the Saxon period. Early medieval pottery also suggests it was reused as a burh. Unlike the buildings, the focus here is on a sequence of possible periods of use rather than a single year of construction. The hillfort lies on a small, level plateau with good views in all directions.

The historic sites therefore differ not only in their dates. The church, chapel and memorial are characterised by building phases, dates or heritage listings; the hillfort is primarily associated with possible periods of use and archaeological interpretations. This distinction helps to consider architectural history and history of use separately.

Golf and Day Spa at Whittlebury Park

Golf enthusiasts can choose between two different formats at Whittlebury Park. Whittlebury Park Golf Club has 36 holes across four individual 9-hole loops; the course winds through a historic oak park and the remains of Whittlewood Forest. The Toptracer Driving Range offers interactive golf activities for all skill levels. The comparison is clear: on one side are the course and landscape, and on the other, interactive activities at the range.

Visitors to the Day Spa at Whittlebury Park can use the pool, a wide selection of classes, and the state-of-the-art Artis by Technogym equipment. Heat & Ice Experiences are part of Whittlebury Park's spa and leisure facilities.

Discover more destinations: Woodford, Wellingborough, Northampton, Thurning, Crick, Collyweston, Towcester, Ecton.

For the broader travel overview: Northamptonshire.