The Village

Yardley Hastings nestling in the English Countryside of Northamptonshire, in a valley surrounded by lush forests, beautiful countryside and rich in wildlife.  The village is a mixture of pretty stone cottages, old red brick, converted barns and modern houses with thatch, slate and red tile roofs and gardens full of cottage garden plants.

The village is split in two by the main road which runs from Northampton to Bedford, the 'top end' of the village is by Chase Park Road, a dead-end lane leading to farms and forests known as 'Yardley Chase' the 'bottom end' is the older part of the village by The High Street, which leads through the village and on to Castle Ashby.

We are surrounded by the pretty villages of Castle Ashby, Chadstone, Denton, Whiston, Easton Maudit and the picturesque Old Market Town of Olney.

Where did the name Yardley Hastings come from?

One story has it that, as William the Conqueror was passing through the village after conquering England, he asked a local in habitant if he was on the right way.  The Yokel, not fully understanding him, answered " 'ardley 'astings, master".

However, the name has a much less fanciful and dubious derivation. "Yard" comes from the Saxon word for a clearing in the woods and "Ley" is the Saxon word for a permanent pasture ground.  "Hastings" is probably derived from a Saxon or Old English personal name, "Hestingoromgens" or "Haesta" meaning "the violent one" as well a person might have been in those distant and lawless times.

The village is recorded in the Domesday Book, complied in 1086, as "Gerdelai", meaning ringed on three sides by forests...the last surviving tree of this primeval forest is known as GOG, which can be found at the end of Chase Park Road.  The village later became "Yerdele" and by the year 1316 become "Yerdele Hastinges". 

"GOG"

The Church

The Church is as old as the Conqueror and still has in its walls stones that were laid around the time Judith was given this piece of England as a gift.  The tower was built by the Normans with the rest of the church is as transformed in the 14th Century.

Click on the links below, and take a 'walk' around the village...

[ Home ] [ Our Village ]
[ Village Events ] [ Our History ] [ Maps ] [ St Andrews Church ] [ The Chapel ] [ Contributors ] [ Local Information ] [ My Photo Album ]

The Village Today      The Village Past

If you have any comments or spot any mistakes, please email sheree@yardley-hastings.com