The 1500s

The 1500s was the century of Tudor reign. Henry Vlll, Edward Vl, Mary, and Elisabeth l. The prosperity of Northampton had now fallen to an all time low. In 1535 an Act of Parliament was passed to try to remedy the situation. It stated the Northampton was in great ruin and decay, and that many empty spaced existed, covered only with the remains of dilapidated houses. To improve this evil state of affairs, it was ordered that unless the owners of these ruined houses rebuilt them within three years, the ground landlord might do so, and then the houses would be his absolutely. If the ground landlord failed to do this, the municipal authorities were entitled to do so. If they too failed, anybody who was able to rebuild the houses might take possession of them and the ground upon which they stood.

Times were also tempestuous for the incumbents of the Manor of Heyford. The Manor continued to be in the hands of the Mauntells. However in 1541, John Mauntell, 'sallying forth in company with his brother-in-law, Lord Dacre, and others on a nocturnal frolic to chase the deer in St Nicholas Pelham's Park in Sussex, encountered three men, one of whom being mortally wounded in the affray. He and his associates were convicted of murder, executed, and their estates escheated to the Crown'.

Then in 1553, John's only son Walter 'engaged the Kentish insurrection to approve the marriage of Queen Mary, headed by Sir Thomas Wyatt, and was taken prisoner with him, sent to the Tower, and subsequently executed in Kent on 27th Feb, 1553'. He lost his estate to the Crown, though the Manor House was kept by the family because John Mauntell had made a settlement of the manor to his wife Anne. Anne took a second husband, Richard Johnson, who together with Francis Morgan, 'serjeant-in-law', 'levied a fine of the three manors of Heyford, Over Heyford, and Nether Heyford, and the Advowson of Nether Heyford.

Then Francis Morgan obtained the 'fee simple' and so the manor passed into the hands of the Morgans. Francis and his wife Anne are buried at Heyford. Francis died in 1558, the estate passed to his son Thomas

Meanwhile in 1560, Heyford Grange became occupied by Thomas Judkin. It continued to be occupied by his family until 1925 on the death of Anne Judkin.