Landscape character

Rock

Boughton sits on the relatively high ground of the Upper Valleys, which form part of the strata running from the Cotswolds to Lincolnshire. The rocks are mainly clay or clayey limestone and the formations above the Lias are of the Northamptonshire sand/ironstone group, although a good deal of clay is still present.

Soil

The soil is not particularly fertile and can be described as ‘thin and hungry’. However it is alkali/lime rich and well drained and supports the growth of beech. South of the village a seam of boulder clay varies from a few centimetres to 40 metres. This is not easy to ‘work’ and has affected the type of crop that farmers will grow. Main crops are wheat, barley, beet, maize and oil seed rape.

Local building material

A dominant architectural feature of the village is the large number of houses constructed of the yellow brown Northamptonshire sand/ironstone, quarried locally.

Agricultural character

Boughton is an intensively-farmed parish with an arable and livestock mix. The fields vary in size from small to very extensive. All have well defined boundaries of either tree- lined hedgerows, drystone walling, or post and rail fencing. A particular feature is the abundance of copses and spinneys that lie within parish boundaries. These are composed predominantly of mixed native tree species.

Designated Landscape Areas

On the western edge of Boughton parish lies a Special Landscape Area (LP1997, EN1). This attractive area is important to the form and character of the locality.

There are also a number of County Wildlife Sites. These include Obelisk Spinney, Grotto Spinney, Brickhill Spinney and Nursery Wood.

Boughton Park, an 18th Century landscaped park, contains the largest collection of follies in Northamptonshire and is recognised to be of national importance. It has been given special recognition and is included in the National Register of Parks and Gardens compiled by English Heritage.

Other specific landscape features

The grotto in Grotto Spinney is a man-made cave-like structure, hewn from limestone. It was built on what is thought to have been a pagan site. The Parish is rich in archaeological remains, containing Saxon and Roman sites, and there are also two barrows, one at Bunkers Hill, the other at Boughton Grange. The site of an old Motte and Bailey lies within the pocket park. Several quarries,consisting of old workings and active permission, lie predominantly to the north and west of the parish. Boughton Green, continuously used by Boughton Fair from 1351 until 1916, also contains the ruins of the mother church of St John the Baptist. Its spire fell in 1786 but the graveyard is still used for burial. A Holy Well, known as St John’s Spring, is well documented and lies behind the Altar.

Boughton Playing Field was given Pocket Park status in 1993. It contains the remains of an ancient motte and bailey and other earthworks, plus playing apparatus and a pond.

On its southern aspect, Boughton is separated from Obelisk Rise, which lies within the Borough of Northampton, by a small dividing line of fields. This green buffer separates Boughton from the expanding town of Northampton and provides a green edge to the village (LP1997, EN10).

Trees and Woodland

A number of trees in the parish are protected by Tree Preservation Orders. Daventry District Council holds a complete list. Trees planted during the 1700s in Boughton Park are identified and protected as a Tree Preservation Area.

There are several important woodland copses which enhance the landscape: Grotto Spinney, Brickhill Spinney, Butchers Spinney, Duke’s Clump Spinney, Obelisk Spinney and Nursery Wood. Also of special note are the trees bordering the brook at the end of Butchers Lane.

Footpaths

Boughton is intersected by several public footpaths and rights of way, and by permitted footpaths which are made available for walkers by courtesy of the landowners. A Parish Path Warden, appointed by the Parish Council, identifies and reports any problems. Every public footpath is given a unique reference number and a concise map of all footpaths is held at the County Council Offices for public inspection. All footpaths are clearly finger-posted and way-marked.

Minerals and Waste

From the 1960s to 1980, ironstone was extracted in large quantities by British Steel (now Corus) between the north of Boughton and Pitsford and on land north east of Duke's Clump Spinney.

In 1979, two planning applications were submitted. Firstly, to re-work the original 54-acre ironstone site to extract limestone. (The limestone had been put back into the quarry during the original workings as it was deemed to have no commercial value). Secondly, to extend the quarry along a stretch of beautiful valley between Boughton and Pitsford. This overlooks Boughton village and the site extends as far as Moulton. Following a revised planning application, permission has now been granted for the extraction of limestone, and work has commenced on site.

An inert waste phased landfill and recycling plant is now operational in Brampton Lane. This has planning permission until December 2006. Two mineral liaison forums have been set up to monitor these activities.