Thorpe Mandeville

Thorpe Mandeville is a village in the county of Northamptonshire, England. The village is set in rolling hillsides, six miles north-east of Banbury. The earliest authentic record is in the "Domesday Book" survey of 1086 where it is styled "Thorp". The name Mandeville is a corruption of the family name Amundeville. Richard Amundeville and his heirs were lords of the manor during the 13th century.

The population of the parish has not altered greatly over the centuries. It was only 137 in 1801 and 178 in 1991. The village is situated on the important former drovers' road known as Banbury Lane. The village's only remaining public house, the "Three Conies" dating from the 17th century, was a drovers' inn providing overnight accommodation for the drovers and their stock. The ironstone parish church is believed to date from the 13th century. It has a saddle-back tower. Inside, there is an impressive monument depicting Thomas Kirton and his family. The Kirtons occupied the manor house from 1554 to 1685. It is recorded that the manor was garrisoned by Oliver Cromwell. The current ironstone manor house dates from about the 1770s, replacing an old house which stood west of the church. The south front of the house is said to be in the strong style of Thomas Archer.

The hamlet of Lower Thorpe lies to its north.

External links

* [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/ Thorpe Mandeville]
*oscoor gbx|SP533449