Origins Behind the Name of Preston Capes...
By Gladys May Smith
The village of Preston Capes enjoys a unique position on a hilltop. Coming down the High Street, from the crossroads at the top of the village, the splendid view spread before one, with picturesque cottages on either side, enchants the eye. Flowers spill out of the gardens almost on to the footpath, while cherry trees order the road as it goes dipping down the hill towards Daventry.
To the left of the High Street sprawls a delightful medley of chalet-type houses and old-world cottages; no two alike; each garden ablaze with flowers according to season. The air is so bracing, and the whole setting so exhilarating, that romantic visitors have been known to refer to it as a "Little Switzerland."
In winter, after a heavy fall of snow, the icy air resounds with the joyous cries of happy children tobogganing down the steep slopes beyond the Church. Beginners often have a tumble or two, but undismayed, they toil up the hill and try again.
Adventure
Among the older villagers, a few adventurous ones have been knows to ski over the sloping fields below, endeavoring to recapture the joys of their last holiday abroad.
Preston Capes - why so called?
Preston: The name appears as Prestetere in the Domesday Book. The village itself, at one time was knows as Preston Magna, while the hamlet about one mile down the road towards Northampton, was knows as Preston Parva - now designated, Little Preston. The Romans built a camp on the bluff at the bottom of the High Street.
This commended the approach from the camp at Burnt Walls, Daventry to the next camp at Towcester.
The Romans must have made a lengthy stay in the village for they built a "Temple to the Sun," on sloping ground facing due east, where it would catch the rays of the rising sun. The foundations are still recognisable and may be seen on the side of a hill about a mile down the road to Daventry.
In the reign of Augustine, it is known that the Roman general Tascoivanus reached the sources of the Nene and Welland which both rise in the district. It is quite surmisable that he and his men bivouacked at the camp on the hill.
Capes: This word is mispronounced by all and sundry to rhyme with 'tapes'. It should be pronounced Caapes, with the accent on the last syllable as in French for it is a French surname.
When William the Conqueror overran Britain in 1066, he rewarded each of the knights who aided him with a gift of land. The land around Preston was awarded to a French knight, namely Hugh de Capes (Hugues Capet).
He straightway built a Norman castle on the site of the Roman encampment, thus taking advantage of its strategic position.
There are still traces of the castle walls, but now the Manor House occupies this historic site.
Idyllic
In this idyllic village there is neither shop nor inn. There was once an inn on one of the corners of the crossroads at the top entrance to the village. In days of yore, before the advent of motor transport, a few hardy souls set out in a wagonette for market day at Daventry. It was enjoyed as a day's outing and the journey (6 miles) took the whole day.
Today a flourishing farmhouse stands on the site of the inn. This corner is also the "picking up" and "letting down" for the local bus.
The High Street runs down the hill from the crossroads to the Manor House on the right(site of Roman camp Norman castle) and to Church Lane on the left. About halfway down the hill on the right stood the old Bakehouse where, long ago, the villagers brought their dinners to be baked. A little lower down on the other side was the Blacksmith's Forge, now called Forge Cottage.
Church Lane leads to an open space, which I have heard named Church End, though no-one remembers this now. Around this space are grouped the Chantry, the Churchyard, Church, Rectory and the school (closed in 1963). Until quite recently, Church Lane was called "The City". Never was the word "city" used by itself, but always "The City". No-one knew why it was so called, but I believe it is a relic of the Norman occupation. It may well have been the site of a village belonging to Hugh de Capes' castle on the hill, for the word "cite" is French for city meaning village or buildings.
At the present time, a row of council houses occupies one side of the lane, while the picturesque backs of gardens face these on the opposite side.
Before the council houses were built, the land was utilised as allotments, and during digging operations, traces of former occupation were discovered.
Puzzle
Another unusual feature of the village, which has puzzled newcomers, is the solidly built archway supported by twin cottages on either side. Through this arch, high on the hill, a splendid view is spread out below. This was formerly an approach to Fawsley Park.
The way led through the arch, down the hill, through an avenue of trees, across the valley at the bottom and then meandered over Windmill Hill, passing Otter Wood to Fawsley Lakes and to the Hall.
The arch, so it is said was built to impress Queen Victoria when on a visit to Lady Knightley at Fawsley.