Whilton
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|official_name= Whilton
|coordinates = {{coord|52.27737|-1.06791|display=inline,title}}
|civil_parish = Wilton
| population = 271
|population_ref = (2011 Census)
|unitary_england= West Northamptonshire
|lieutenancy_england= Northamptonshire
|region= East Midlands
|constituency_westminster= Daventry
|post_town= DAVENTRY
|postcode_district = NN11
|postcode_area= NN
|dial_code= 01327
|os_grid_reference= SP637647
|static_image_name= Whilton Northamptonshire 39 03 08.JPG
|static_image_caption= Saint Andrew’s Parish Church Whilton
}}
Whilton is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Northamptonshire.'OS' Explorer Map, Northampton & Market Harborough 223 {{ISBN|978-0-319-46396-3}} The population (including Slapton) at the 2011 Census was 271.{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11130536&c=Whilton&d=16&e=62&g=6450977&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1468069565418&enc=1|title=Civi Parish population 2011|access-date=9 July 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=Neighbourhood Statistics}} The village is in West Northamptonshire. Whilton is {{convert|75|mi|km|0}} northwest of London, {{convert|9+3/4|mi|km|1}} west of Northampton and {{convert|15+1/2|mi|km|1}} southeast of Rugby. The village lies {{convert|4+1/2|mi|km|1}} east of the nearest town of Daventry. The nearest railway station is at Long Buckby for the Northampton loop of the West Coast Main Line which runs between Rugby, Northampton and London. The nearest airport is Birmingham Airport. Whilton gives its name to the nearby Whilton Locks and Whilton Marina on the Grand Union Canal. Whilton is also home to the world famous Whilton Mill Kart Circuit, where many drivers like Jack Wilch (WMKC B Final runner up) and Spencer Brougham (Electric Kart European championship winner) started their careers. Whilton Mill Kart Circuit is run by chief Marshal Harry Bonham
History
The village's name means 'Wheel farm/settlement', either alluding to the circular hill on which the village stands or the bending course of the stream here.{{cite web |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Northamptonshire/Whilton |title = Key to English Place-names}}
Whilton is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1068, where it is listed under the name of 'Woltone'.The Domesday Book, Englands Heritage, Then and Now, Editor: Thomas Hinde,Northamptonshire page 204 {{ISBN|1-85833-440-3}} The main tenant landowner was Robert, Count of Mortain who was the half-brother to William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy and later king William I of England.
Whilton gives its name to a book described as a Social-Legal Study of Dispute Settlement in Medieval England, called 'The Whilton Dispute, 1264 to 1380', written by Robert C Palmer, in which the Whelton family was engaged. The Mortimer & Montgomery families were also involved.{{ISBN|0 691 054045}}
The Parish Church of Saint Andrew
The Parish Church of Saint Andrew is constructed from the local Northamptonshire Ironstone and was built between the 12th and 13th centuries, although very little remains of this original, having been restored in late 18th century.The Buildings of England, Northamptonshire, by Nikolaus Pevsner, 2nd Edition revised by Bridget Cherry, Whilton entry. {{ISBN|0-14-071022-1}} The tower had a ring of 6 bells, which had been given in 1777 by the patron of the time William Lucas Rose, who also paid for their installation and the building work. Three of these original bells and three newer replacements were recast and, with added metal, were made into a ring of eight bells in 1994. They were cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The tenor (heaviest) bell weighs {{convert|675|kg}} and bears the inscription: CANON J.J. RICHARDSON, PRIEST /HAROLD HAYNES, JANET C. BOWERS CHURCHWARDENS /WHITECHAPEL 1994. The church clock is unusual as it was originally a one handed clock divided into ¼ hours and therefore does not have 60 minutes. In 1779 William Lucas Rose also gave a gift of communion vessels which are still in use today. The Church's east window, the only stained glass in the building, portrays the crucifixion of Jesus and dates from 1878.
Amenities
The nearby Whilton Marina is close to Whilton Locks on the Grand Union canal. It was dug out in 1971 by the Steele family who still own and operate the business. The marina has over 200 moorings. The village also has a karting track nearby called Whilton Mill.[http://www.whiltonmill.co.uk Whilton Mill.]
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Whilton}}
- [http://www.whilton-village.net Whilton Village website]
{{Daventry District}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Villages in Northamptonshire