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VERY NICE PLACE !

Not to be confused with the major Hertfordshire town to the north of London, the Northamptonshire village of Watford is known for the nearby Watford Gap. The Gap is one of England's major transport arteries due to its position through the ridge of high ground that runs across the region. There was a settlement here in Roman times called Bannaventa, which means 'gap in the hills' and it was on the route of Watling Street, the major Roman road. Today, there's a pub – the Wheelwright's Arms – and the surrounding Watford Park, an 18th-century garden cultivated on the site of the former medieval village.

It's perhaps not the most scenic place you will ever walk but Watford Gap has a certain charm for transport enthusiasts. Here pass the historic Roman Watling Street, the A5, the Birmingham to London railway line, the Grand Union Canal and the M1 motorway. The reason all these major transport arteries pass through here is because Watford Gap is a low-lying region between hills on the limestone escarpment that crosses the heart of England. It's a crucial link between the Midlands and the South East, with many citing it as the dividing line between Northern and Southern England.

This attractive Northamptonshire village lies on the route of the Jurassic Way long-distance footpath and is an important stop off just above Watford Gap. There are a number of amenities for walkers, including three pubs, one of which has rooms for the night. There are also bed and breakfast options and a grocery store.

Lovely stretch with great scenery

Interesting architecture on the gate and boundary walls. Tea room details as per photo.

Church. C15 with earlier tower. Ironstone rubble, squared and coursed with slate roof to chancel, nave, vestry and porch. Chancel, which is of 2 bays has 2 restored C15 windows to south and one to north and one restored C15 window to east. Small C15 priest's door to south has moulded arch and later wood door. Adjoining nave to north a vestry of later date with wood-panelled door. Hood mould and label stops to windows and doors, coping to gables and quoins to angles. Aisled nave has no clerestorey and is of 3 bays. 3 restored C15 windows to south with one at east and one at west, and 3 to north with one C14 window at west. Hood moulds and label stops, some carved. Door to north has pointed, triple moulded arch with hood mould and later 2-leaf wood-panelled door. Roof has coped gables. Porch to south has moulded door surround with wood plank door and hood moulds and roof has coped gable and kneelers. To either side a small, square-headed window of 2 liqhts. Tower is of 3 storeys, to west at first stage a single pointed lancet, chamfered and with hood mould, probably C14. Second stage has similar lancet to south and clock face to west. Third stage, which is slightly set back, has three C14 sandstone windows of Reticulated tracery, all with hood moulds. The corners have angle buttresses. Corbel table to top stage with carved faces. The whole building rests on a stone plinth. Interior: chancel window to east surmounted by hood mould with carved foliage label stops. The roof is C19 and rests upon carved foliage corbels. C14 piscina in south wall is cusped. Chancel arch, which is C15, is chamfered and has polygonal respond shafts below capitals. Nave is 4-bay double-chamfered arcade with C15 polygonal piers upon plinths, with responds to west wall and chancel. Tower arch is set slightly off centre and is double chamfered beneath hood mould. Roof is mostly C19 and C20 restoration, perhaps with some reused C15 beams in aisles. Moulded pointed arch to porch has hood mould and 2-leaf wood door of 10 panels. Arch to outer door is moulded and chamfered. Floor to east end of chancel is decorated with C19 polychrome marbels and some malachite, reputed to be a Russian gift. C20 choir stalls. Pulpit was carved by villagers in 1899. Pews are C19. C19 stained glass in 2 chancel windows and in west wall tower. Series of C17, C18 and early C19 memorial tablets set in walls of chancel and nave are dedicated to the Clarke family, some having been carved by Cox of Daventry. Corbel set into wall is late medieval and probably reset, whilst simply moulded stone font is of later date.