Village History
This section will probably always be "under construction" but that's because of the sheer volume of information to choose from. However, anyone with their own information that might be useful for this section please contact me.
I would particularly like people to look out old photographs which show the houses/buildings, characters and events of the past. Does anyone have an old school photo?
Apart from that, if you know of a story or piece of history such as which houses used to be shops etc, either jot it down for me or come round and tell me so that I can write it down. The worst thing that can happen is for you to tell me in passing in the street or at a village hall event when I can't write it down and will doubtless forget it!
New - October 2003
The Village Name
The parish of Preston Capes includes two villages, Preston Capes and Little Preston. In the past Preston Capes has been known as Great Preston, West Preston or Preston on the Hill, whilst Little Preston has been known as Preston Parva or Wood Preston. Preston Capes is built on the Oxford Lane, an ancient trackway which approaches from Newnham and continues southwards until it becomes an unmetalled track when it enters Canons Ashby parish.
The name Preston Capes is derived partly from Preosta-tun (Anglo-Saxon for the priests enclosure) and partly from a French family name which was added when Hugh de Capes held the Hundred of Fawsley in the early 13th century. Perhaps the reference to the priests enclosure relates directly to the cluniac priory which was founded in the village in 1090?
More can be found regarding the name of the village and places within the village by reading the transcript of the 1932 Northamptonshire Place Name Survey.
Mrs H Gardner - Local Historian
In July 1989 Mrs H Gardner completed her compilation of village history, which was printed with copies for sale in the Church. Her work, taken in part from previous documentation compiled by Adrian Stamford, and part from her own research, will be available in full on this site shortly. I would like to thank Mrs Gardner for her permission to use her work.