Greens Norton

History

In medieval times, the village was known a simply 'Norton' and was a royal domain of Edward the Confessor and later William the Conqueror. In the 14th century the whole village was sold to Sir Henry Greene for a total of 20 shillings hence the name Greene's Norton, which today is reduced to just Greens Norton.

Facilities

It has a pub called the Butchers Arms, a post office, and a primary school.The village has a doctors surgery and there are current motions to add a commercial pharmacy to this.

The village is the northern terminus of the Grafton Way footpath.

Greens Norton hosts its annual village show in September each year. The show is affiliated to the RHS. The entries comprise of handicrafts, fruit and vegetables, art, photography, cookery items and special children's categories. The schedule is published annually on the Greens Norton village show website.

There is an active Neighbourhood watch in Greens Norton which helps residents protect themselves and their property, by means of greater vigilance, information sharing, reporting concerns and suspicious incidents to the Police. this also encourages neighbourliness and a community spirit. As part of Neighbourhood Watch residents of Greens Norton can sign up for alerts.

There is a bi monthly village newsletter which is delivered to village residents free of charge. Any profit from this goes towards small grants for local community projects.

Buildings

The grade I listed parish church is dedicated to St Bartholomew and is Saxon in origin. Its tall spire, last rebuilt in 1957, is a landmark for miles around. The architect H. R. Gough rebuilt the chancel arch in 1882. There are monuments and a brass to members of the Greene family. The church is in the Diocese of Peterborough, and the Benefice of "Towcester with Caldecote and Easton Neston and Greens Norton and Bradden" (The Tove Benefice).

There are 27 listed buildings in the parish, all but the church being grade II listed. Other notable buildings include Bengall Manor and nearby farms built about 1840 by the Grafton Estate at nearby Caswell and Field Burcote.

Transport

Although there was never a railway station at Greens Norton, there was once a junction here, where the lines of the Stratford and Midland Junction Railway from Towcester to Stratford, and Towcester to Banbury diverged. In 1910 however, the physical connection was removed, leaving two separate single lines running side by side from here into Towcester.