Wow, what a day!
Andrew and Toni took Nan and me around to a number of villages in Northamptonshire with family connections.
The first stop was Brafield on the Green. At the church we found a lady who had just finished cleaning and was heading out. She graciously opened th church for us and directed us to the farm that formerly belong to the Satgeant family. My great-great-grandmother Emily Elizabeth Barker worked there in service (more or less as a maid).
We also visited Hartwell, Ashton, and Gayton. For lunch we ate at Cromwell Cottage in Kislingbury, which was outstanding.
The beauty of these villages is incredible. They are all so old and full of history. As an American, I am blown away by these old stone buildings, by the thatched roofs, the lichen, and the views of the countryside. There’s little to compete with it near where I live. The best I can think of would be a place like Elsah or Hermann, but those only go back hundred or couple hundred years.
Check out this photo gallery, and a video:
-
Brafield on the Green -
Headstone of John Sargeant at Church of St. Laurence at Brafield on the Green -
Church of St. Laurence at Brafield on the Green -
Nan, Toni, and uncle Raymond walk the path at Church of St. Laurence at Brafield on the Green -
"Home Farm" or "Sargeants' farm" at Brafield on the Green -
Bluebell flowers -
Nan finds a Lawrence on a WWI memorial at St. John the Baptist Church in Hartwell -
headstone of Charlotte Florence Emma and George Lawrence at St. John the Baptist Church in Hartwell -
Church of St. Michael and All Angels at Ashton -
Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Gayton -
Uncle Raymond looks through the headstones at Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Gayton -
Headstone of Eileen Mabel Lawrence at Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Gayton -
Andrew and uncle Raymond look at the headstone of Eileen Mabel Lawrence at Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Gayton -
Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Gayton -
Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Gayton -
Alabaster effigy of Sir John de Herteshull inside at Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Gayton -
Street in Gayton -
View of a field in Gayton -
Clematis and other flowers on a wall in Gayton
