The 1700s

In contrast with previous times, the eighteenth century was a period when little of historic importance happened in Northampton. Even by 1800 the population was only around 7000 inhabitants. The monarchs during this period were Queen Anne, followed by the first three Georges. Shoemaking continued to be the most important occupation in the town. In fact, fifteen percent of the voters at the 1768 election were listed as having this occupation.

The 1700s was a period of religious turmoil, with struggles between the High Church and non-conformists. In 1789, the Rev Charles Crawley became Rector of Stowe. He and his family ran the churches of Heyford and Stowe under High Church principles. However he had come to the village at a time when the area was saturated with Protestantism. The Society of Friends, or Quakers, had become established in the late 1600s. Meeting houses were set up in Flore in 1678, and Bugbrooke in 1692. The minutes of these meetings showed that there were regular attendees from Heyford. The Baptist movement was also becoming established. The records of the Castle Hill Baptist Chapel in Northampton also included references to members living in Heyford.

The current Manor House building near the Church is believed to have been built around 1740 by William, the third Marquis of Powis, using stone from the original house at Upper Heyford. In the late 1700s it was occupied by Henry Jephcott, Rector of Heyford. When he died in 1800, the property passed to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Rev R B Hughes, Rector of Kislingbury.

In 1750 the enclosure award for Heyford was made, and in 1793, work began on the construction of the Grand Junction Canal, later to become the Grand Union Canal.