Syresham, or Sighere’s Ham as it was originally known, is an old forest village, surrounded by the remnants of ancient woodland – the hunting grounds of several Kings of England. The village is
composed of a double loop on either side of a shallow valley through which flows a brook, reputedly the source of the great River Ouse. The population was once much larger than it is today (c800 inhabitants) and most of the land in and around the village was once owned by Magdalen College Oxford. St James Church dates from the 12th century and there are still buildings in the village constructed from stone obtained from a quarry just north of the church. The village is traversed by the Welsh Lane, an old drover’s road used to bring cattle and sheep to London.
Several books have been written giving a detailed history of the village, including Dr Philip Pettit’s ‘Syresham – A Forest Village’
composed of a double loop on either side of a shallow valley through which flows a brook, reputedly the source of the great River Ouse. The population was once much larger than it is today (c800 inhabitants) and most of the land in and around the village was once owned by Magdalen College Oxford. St James Church dates from the 12th century and there are still buildings in the village constructed from stone obtained from a quarry just north of the church. The village is traversed by the Welsh Lane, an old drover’s road used to bring cattle and sheep to London.Several books have been written giving a detailed history of the village, including Dr Philip Pettit’s ‘Syresham – A Forest Village’
Syresham today is a traditional yet modern village with ancient historic roots, still small enough for its people to enjoy the intimacy of community. The Parish
comprises the village itself, the smaller settlements of Crowfield and Pimlico, and a small number of outlying farms and rural properties, altogether some 300+ dwellings. To the Planners of Northamptonshire it is a 'restricted infill village', which means that appropriate small scale developments are only permitted within the village confines.
comprises the village itself, the smaller settlements of Crowfield and Pimlico, and a small number of outlying farms and rural properties, altogether some 300+ dwellings. To the Planners of Northamptonshire it is a 'restricted infill village', which means that appropriate small scale developments are only permitted within the village confines.Syresham is advantageously served by good road communications. Northampton, Oxford, Milton Keynes and Banbury are within shopping distance, and it is only a 20 minute drive from two of the UK's main motorways, the M1 and the M40 putting London and Birmingham just over an hour away. The world famous Silverstone race track borders on the Parish boundary and the local towns of Towcester, Buckingham and Brackley all have a good range of shops and businesses close by.