ABOUT OUR VILLAGE

Newnham Village

Newnham is a small village with a population of around 600 located in the county of Northamptonshire, just south of Daventry, situated on the banks of the River Nene and surrounded by beautiful countryside.  The village name is thought to derive from Anglo Saxon meaning 'At the new homestead/village' or 'at the new hemmed-in land'. 

Our village has a rich history dating back to the 11th century, and there are many historic buildings and landmarks to explore. One of the most notable is the Church of St. Michael and All Angels, which dates back to the 13th century and features stunning stained glass windows and a beautiful bell tower. In the early 1900s Newnham was made famous across Britain for the annual hill climb involving early motorcycles and then motorcars who sought to ascend the notoriously steep Newnham Hill before the invention of modern gears. 

Despite its small size, Newnham has a strong sense of community and there are many local events and activities to get involved in. Our village has a primary school with an active PTA fondly known as FONs, a pub, and a village hall which hosts regular events such as comedy nights, quiz nights and live music. There are also several clubs to get involved with, including the Girl Guides, the History Society, the Book Club, the Women’s Institute and the Bell Ringers, which gives opportunities for people of all ages to get active and socialise with others in the community. 

For those who enjoy the outdoors, Newnham is the perfect place to explore the surrounding countryside. With plenty of local footpaths and walks through beautiful countryside and fields there is always somewhere to explore, including our very own Nuttery, growing hazelnuts with snowdrops blooming every spring. 

Newnham Hill is topped by an ancient disused windmill, and has commanding views over the nearby town of Daventry, which is also home to a large aerial that is part of the air traffic control system of the British Isles. 

* Drone photos courtesy of Tim Bradley

** Other photography by kind permission from Bob Hopkins & Judith Dorkins