Weedon Bec, Beck, or Weedon-on-the-Street, is bounded by Nether Heyford on the east, Dodford on the north, Everdon on the west, and on the south by Stowe, from which it is divided by Stowe brook. It contains 1855 acres, and its population in 1801 was 750; in 1831, 1439; in 1841, 2195; in 1851, 2195; in 1861, 2189 ; and in 1871,1861 souls, including 816 persons in Weedon barracks. The rateable value of the parish is £7263, and the gross estimated rental is £9163. The soil of the lower ground is principally clay, and of the hills a light loam ; the lordship is about equally divided between arable and pasture ; and the principal landowners are the Provost and Fellows of Eton College (lords of the manor), and the Rev. T. C. Thornton (the lay impropriator). There are six hills in the parish, " one of which," writes Bridges, "called Whitewell Hill, affords a view of twenty spire steeples at once, and on a clear day extends the prospect to Higham Ferrers." Camden, Talbot, Morton.and other antiquaries place the Bennaventa of the Britons and Isannavaria of the Romans here, but Mr Baker appropriates it to Borough Hill, near Daventry. " Though we have no Roman antiquities now at Weedon," says Bridges, "it is certain that it was afterwards the chief seat of Wulphere King of the Mercians; which Mr Morton thinks a further argument of its having been formerly a Roman station, as many of these in after-times became the dwelling-places of Saxon princes. But if Bennaventa were the ancient name, how comes it to be now called Weedon? Mr Morton hath given a solution to this difficulty. Peada, the elder brother of Wulphere, and his immediate predecessor in the kingdom of Mercia, is by our old historians frequently called Weda. Supposing him, therefore, to have taken up his residence here, the place might in all probability be named from him, and Weedon be no other than a contraction from Weadaton or Weda's town." In Leland's time, a little from the south side °f the church yard, there stood "a faire chapel" dedicated to St Werburgh. This lady was the daughter of king Wulphere, and set over a monastery of nuns here by her uncle, King Ethelred, who succeeded her father in his kingdom. This monastery was subsisting in the age of Bede, but was destroyed by the Danes in the ninth century. By digging in the upper part of the ground called the Ashyards, to the south side of the church, the foundations of old buildings have at different times been discovered, and large wall stones taken up. These, in all probability, were the ruins of St Werburgh's monastery and of King Wulphere's palace according to Mr baker "Ethelred King of Mercia converted the royal palace of his brother and predecessoer, Wulphere, at Weedon, into a monastery, under the superintendence of his neice Werburgh. She had in her infancy vowed to devote her life to religion but was prevented from professing herself by Wulphere her father. Relieved from this obstacle by his death, she and her mother took the veil in the Abbey of Ely ; but at the earnest entreaty of her uncle Ethelred she returned into Mercia, and for the fame of her piety was elected to preside ovcr the four nunneries of Trentham and Hanbury in Staffordshire. Repton in Derbyshire and Weedon in Northamptonshire She spent much of her time at Weedon and was here that the miracle recorded of her in Cresy's ' Church History' was performed. The corn in the neighbourhood having suffered much from the inroads of wild geese, she remonstrated with and forbade them ever to revisit her demesnes; to which command they paid implicit obedience, and in Bridges' time it was the popular belief that no wild geese were ever seen to settle or graze in Weedon field." Drayton, when speaking of the course of the Nene, alludes to this legend. He says :—

" She falleth in her way with Weedon, where, 'tis said, St Werburgh, princely born, a most religious maid, From those peculiar fields by prayer the wildfowl drove. '

She died at Trentham towards the close of the seventh century, on the 3d of February, on which day her festival was celebrated. She was buried at Hanbury, from whence her body was translated in 875 to the Abbey of Chester, which was dedicated to her as its patron saint, and where in the cathedral, formerly the abbey church, her shrine now serves for the base of the episcopal throne.

Manor.—At the time of the Norman survey, Hugh de Grentemaisnil held 3 hides of land in Weedon, which he had in exchange for Watford. There were 17a. of meadow, and 12a. of wood, with the mill, of the yearly rent of 40d,, and the whole had been valued at 40s., but was then advanced to 50s. Soon after the Conquest, Roger de Thebovit gave a moiety of this manor to the Abbey of Bec, in Normandy; and before the close of the reign of Henry II. the whole of Weedon was in the possession of the monks of Bec. This monastery was built in 1034, in the valley of Bec, by Harlewin, son of Augor and Hillors, descended from the Danes, who became its first abbot. Sir William Dugdale and Dr Tanner make Weedon Priory a cell of the Convent of Bee ; but it is certain that it was a parcel of the Priory of Okeburn, in Wiltshire, which was the only cell to the Abbey of Bec in England. Henry II. granted considerable privileges, such as sok, sak, thol, and thew, infangthef, the goods and chattels of all their tenants who should be sentenced to die or lose a limb in any of the king's courts, and all amerciaments whatsoever. He exempted them from the payment of all toll passage, stallage, &c., and gave them a right to judge and determine on cases of murder and manslaughter, wounding and maiming, blood, water, fire, &c; all of which privileges were confirmed by Henry III. in the 3;th year of his reign (1253), and in addition to which he granted them free warren in their manor of Weedon. "The memory of the privileges and immunities above mentioned," continues Bridges, " still subsists by tradition; a furlong in the Common Field is yet called Gallows-Furlong, and the stump of the gallows is visible, not far from the highroad." On the final suppression of the alien priories by Parliament in the 2d of Henry V. (1414), Weedon, with the other possessions of the Abbey of Bec were escheated to the crown, and granted for life to Humphrey Earl of Stafford afterwards the Duke of Buckingham, who was slain at the battle of Northampton in in 1460. It was then granted to the Provost and Fellows of Eton College near Windsor, by King Henry VI., in 1443 in augmentation of their endowment, ' and has continued in their possession to the present time. The whole lordship is copyhold except the impropriate rectory and vicarage estates, and the land purchased by the Board of Ordinance in 1803. The lands belonging to the Provost and Fellows of Eton are let on beneficial leases renewable every seven years. A court-leet is held occasionally, and a court-baron annually. A town or court house was built by public subscription in 1637, but has long been disused for public purposes. The erection of the Royal Military depot was commenced by Act of Parliament in 1803 for the Ordinance Department, and £100,000 was annually appropriated to the works till completed. It covers an area of about 125 acres of land; stands on the summit of a hill above the village of Weedon; and barracks for 500 men, 200 horses, extensive armoury, storehouses, and magazines capable- of containing 800,000 stand of small arms, besides field ordnance and ammunition, an hospital, and workshops. The situation is very healthy,

elevated and pleasant, overlooking the vale of the Nene, and a rich agricultural landcape. Two field batteries, Royal Artillery, and a detachment of the line are generally stationed here. The Grand Junction Canal communicates with the storehouses, and the railway passes close to them.

The Village of Weedon is also called Weedon-in-thc-Street, from its situation on the ancient Roman road, Watling Street; its distinctive epithet, "Bec," was derived from the circumstance of its ancient priory being established here as a cell to the Abbey of Bec in Normandy. Leland describes the village as "a praty thoroughfare sette on a playne ground, and much celebrated by carriers, by'cause it stondeth hard by the famose way there communely caullid of the peeple Wathelinge Streete. And upon this the tounelet is caullid Weedon-on-the-Streete. The tounelet of itself is meane, and hath no market, and the paroche chirch is as meane." The village at present is large and straggling, and is divided into Church or Lower Weedon, and Upper Weedon, the latter being a few furlongs west of the former. It is situated about 4 miles S.E. from Daventry, 8 miles west from Northampton, and 68 from London by road. The Grand Junction Canal and the London and North -Western Railway pass through it, the latter having a principal station here, distant from London 69 3/4 miles, and from Birmingham 42 3/4 miles. The railway is here carried through a tunnel 509 yards in length. The Northamptonshire police force have a station here, built in 1870 at a cost of about £1500, It is a while brick building, in which the present force reside, which comprises a superintendent, a sergeant, and one constable.

The Church, dedicated to St Peter, stands at the eastern extremity of the village, and is a spacious structure, partly in the Norman and partly in other styles of English architecture, consisting of a nave and side aisles, porch and chancel, with a tower containing five bells. The tower was built before the Conquest, and is probably a Saxon one. On its north and south sides are Norman-arched belfry windows, with a Norman loophole; and there are in each front two rows of corbel heads, four in each row. The body of the church was rebuilt and enlarged in 1823; and the chancel was rebuilt and furnished in 1863, as a memorial to the Rev. Geo.Watson, the late vicar. The west door has a good flat-headed arch with spandrels, under a flat hood moulding; and an organ was erected in 1866 by subscription at a cost of £120. The living is a discharged vicarage in the Deanery of Weedon, rated in the king's books at £11, and its gross income is now worth £300 per annum. The Rev. T. C. Thornton of Brockhall is the patron, and the Rev. John S. Winter, M.A., vicar. The impropriate rectory consists of 248a. 3r. 3p., awarded by the Commissioners of Enclosure in lieu of great tithes. The vicarage received an augmentation in 1739 of £200 from Queen Anne's bounty, with which 8 acres of land were purchased in Hardingstone, and the commissioners also allotted 72a. 3r. 33p. in lieu of glebe and vicarial tithes. A chantry was founded here, but the date or name of the founder is not known. In 1535 its revenues were rated at 106s.8d, per annum. The Vicarage House, a respectable residence, stands a little southwest of the church.

Weedon was constituted a separate deanery in 1871, and comprises the following parishes, viz., Brockhall, Bugbrooke, Dodford, Everdon, Farthingstone, Floore, Harpole, Hay ford Lower, Kislingbury, Litchborough, Stowe-Nine-Churches, and Weedon.

The Independent Chapel, erected in 1792, is a stone building capable of seating about 500 hearers, and to which is attached a small burial-ground. The minister is paid from the interest arising from the sale of 20 acres of " brakes or bushes" left to the independents of Weedon and Floore, which were sold to Mr Grant of Litcborough for £1200. Out of this sum the minister's house and 5 cottages were built were built, and the remainder (£460) is out at interest, altogether producing about £40 per annum.The Weslyan Methodists also have a small chapel here, which was erected in 1811.

The Free School was founded and endowed in 1712 by Nathaniel Billing of London, vintner, and a native of Weedon. He devised the whole of his real estate and personal estate to be converted into money after the decease of his wife, in trust to erect or purchase a school house here for teaching gratis 20 poor children born in Weedon to read, write, cast accounts &c., and he directed his executors to lay out the remainder of the money in purchasing land in or near the said parish,which land and school he appointed should be conveyed to the master and wardens of the Vintner's Company in London, in trust that

his nephew, Nathaniel Billing, and every succeeding master, should receive the whole rents and profits of the land to be purchased to his and their sole use and benefit the master for the time being keeping the school in good repair, ang finding and providing for each of the 20 boys a kersey coat or a coarse cloth of whitish colour, and red buttons and button-holes, a flat cap with a white tuft on the top and white ribbon round each of the caps, and a pair of shoes once in every two years, which things and apparel he ordered should be under the keeping of the master for the time being, whereby they might appear decent at church on Sundays and holidays ; and the testator appointed that once in every two years the boys in the school able to write, read, and cast accompts, should be discharged therefrom, having their clothes with them, and such other boys as the master for the time being, by the advice of the minister and churchwardens of Weedon Beck should elect, should be admitted into the school, to be taught and clothed in manner aforesaid, whereby the charity would be more general to the poor inhabitants of the parish. In pursuance of the will, a dwelling-house for a master and a school were erected in Weedon, and an estate for the support of the school was purchased in the parish of Everdon, which consists of three closes, containing together about 42 acres. The land is let by the master for the time being, and now yields about £105 a year, but subject to a charge for land-tax, amounting to £5 a year. The school-house and school are repaired from time to time by the master. Twenty boys are instructed without charge in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and in the principles of the Church of England, and they attend the church on Sundays with the master. The number is always kept full, and the master has other scholars, paid for by their parents. The school was rebuilt in 1863 by subscription at a cost of £800, and the benefits of the charity were extended to a larger number of poor children.

There is a school for girls and a teacher's house contiguous to the Free School, which was erected in 1860 at a cost of £950, to which an infant school has been added in 1870 at a further cost of about £100.

The other Charities of the parish are—the dividends of £76 Old South Sea Annuities, left in 1736 by the Rev. John Rogers, alternately for the use of the Free School and the poor of the parish; the interest of £50 left by Thos. Judkins in 1719, to the poor of the parish; the interest of £50 bequeathed by George Bliss in 1780, to the poor shoemakers of this parish forever; the interest of £50 which was left by John Freeman, and invested in £80 3 per cent, consols, to be distributed to the oldest poor persons who attend at church regularly; the poor's land, consisting of about 3 acres, allotted in lieu of a right of cutting furze, which lets for about £13 per annum; and the church land, 3 acres, lets for about £11 per annum, and applied by the churchwardens for the repairs of the church.

Adams Mrs., ironmonger, grocer, tallow chandler, and sub stamp distributor

Allin Jno. Maltster and butcher

Andrews Mrs Ann

Arlidge Samuel, photographer

Bailie John, superint. of police

Barker Thomas, baker

Beaslcy Jno. barrack-sergeant

Billing mastr.of Free School

Boys George, tailor

Boys Thomas., tailor

Bullet Mrs Elizabeth

Butlin richard, stationmaster

Capell Rd. grocer & ironmonger

Carter Benjamin, beerhouse Carvel Miss Jemima T .beerho.

Clarke Edward Pearson, stationer and newsagent

Clear Mrs Mary Ann, shopkpr.

Cotes Albert, draper, post-office

Coles IIy Riches, manager and secy for Weedon Gas Co., bailiff of manor of Weedon. and rate collector

Drake William, shopkeeper

Easy George, beerhouse

Forsyth Chas. inland rev. officer

Garrood Gilbert, clock repairer

Gibbins John Archbold, timber merchant and farmer

Green Amy, straw-hat maker

Green Geo. baker and shopkpr.

Green George, blacksmith

Gudgeon Richard, blacksmith and shopkeeper

Gudgeon John, beerhouse

Gudgeonn William, shoemaker

Hadland Joseph, butcher

Hare Arthur, armourer

Herbert Mr Thomas

Howard Thos. carpenter, &c.

Humphrey Mr Ralph

Hutchinson Miss Emma,teacher of girls' school

Judkins Miss Car. Lawn Villa

Kidslcy Francis, mail-cart driver

Lyne Mrs Harriet, schoolmrs.

Malsbury Thomas, saddler

Meacock Thos. baker & grocer

Mead Mrs Mary Ann,beerhouse

Moors Henry, beerhouse

Muddiman William, shoemaker

Muddiman Wtn. jun. hairdresser

Murdin Win. John, shoemaker

Phipps Mr George

Phipps John, plumber & glazier

Pinfold Win. brick & tile manuf.

Rainbow Wm. Oliver, watch mkr.

Reynolds Robert, parish clerk

Reynolds Robert, jun.shoemaker and sexton

Roberts Edmund, builder

Shannan Miss Mary, teacher of infant school

Smith Chas. grocer and draper

Smith Mrs Eliz. brewer, maltster,wine and spirit merchant, Dodford Brewery

Smith Mr John

Smith Thomas, butcher

Stretton Mr Martin

Stretton William, carpenter, builder, and shopkeeper

Swann Fred. Billingham, surgeon, Stowe Nine Churchts

Thwaites William Skillbeck, brazier and tinner

Warr John, shopkeeper

Watson Noah, auctioneer and valuer, Globe Hotel

Watson Wm. coal merchant, and registrar of births and deaths for Weedon district Webb Mr John

Weddell Rev. Jno. Egdell.M. A.

Wells Mrs Susannah

Winter Kev.John S., M. A. vicar

Wynne George Hugh, tailor

Farmers and Graziers.

Allin Thomas, South Villa

Allin William

Barge Christopr. Manor-House

Bromwich Mrs Clara

Earl Samuel

Goff Joseph (and butcher)

Humphrey Mrs Elizabeth

Tarry Thos. & Jas. (& butchers)

Wareing John (and baker)

Fire and Life Offices.

British Prudential (life) Henry Billing'

General (life and fire), Edward P. Clarke

Manchester (fire) Hy. R. Coles

Western (life), Wm. Watson

Hotels, Inns, &c.

Admiral Nelson, William Allin

Duke William, Miss Mary Wall

Fox-and-Hounds, Chas. Lockett

Globe Hotel (posting and commercial), Noah Watson

Horseshoe, James Bliss

Maltsters' Arms, Sam. Hadland

New Inn, Mrs Eliz. Humphrey

Old Crown, William Hopley

Plume-of- Feathers, Mrs Eliz Wallis

Red Lion, Edmund Osborn

Wheat Sheaf, Geo.Nightingale

White Hart, Mrs Sar. Whiting

Carriers to all parts.—London and North-Western Railway, and Grand Junction Canal. Carriers to Northampton.—Thomas Howard and Richard Shortland, on Wed, and Sat.

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