The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: YorkshireLass on June 26, 2011, 12:34:17 pm

Title: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: YorkshireLass on June 26, 2011, 12:34:17 pm
As a career move, I'll be moving to somewhere in Northants in a month or so.
I have only been once, and that was for the interview!  ::)
It looks like I will have to make some serious compromises to afford rent.... I'd love a little cottagey thing with a large garden to attempt veg growing (chickens? rabbits?) and have the dog run around.  :farmer: But I may be restricted to a suburban "clusterhome" (??!) with a few square feet of dirt out front.

Does anyone on here live locally / know any nice areas / know any areas to not even contemplate...? For ease of commuting / travelling onsite I'm initially looking for somewhere between Northampton and Kettering. But I have no concept of how fast the main roads are (short but always clogged? long but clear?) either!

Fortunately my sheep can stay where they are for now. It would be nice to have some land for them though I think it unlikely!

Many thanks  ;D
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: Sandy on June 26, 2011, 01:04:56 pm
Hi, I used to live in Market Harborough for many years, so on the boundary of Nothamptonshire and Leicestershire, so, being an agency worker I covered many of both areas but cannot really tell you where is best. Corby used to be a bit rough but I have friends and family there and I quite like it now, that rough edge is smoothing out and property prices increased with the train links. I worked in Kettering, Wellingborough, Northampton and ???it will come to me later, there are some pretty areas and road links are good, the A14 links a few places but due to it being duel carrageway it can get very frustrating as you get loads of lorries going to the ports at Felixstow, they take up one lane and the other is taken up with lorries overtaking the slower ones!! Mind you, I have been away from that area for a few years now but family are still around. Villages like Brixworth are lovely but to be honest, until I look at the map, have forgotten!!!!

I know where I lived is very expensive now due to trains to Londong taking less than an hour!!!  I loved the areas around Melton Mowbray,, now thats Leicestershire, but thats VERY rural but getting in and out of Melton was a nightmare as all the roads ended up at a roundabout that got conjested, although, that may have changed, some stunning villages around there and good prices.  I bet there are loads on here that know better than me but just one thought!, We bought this house cheap as its in a rough area, but it gets better and better and is actually less of a problem as the rough people here only pick on each other and we have had no crime whereas I lived in a very posh area, WOodhouse Eaves, and had loads of crime......Good luck and enjoy choosing!!!
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: YorkshireLass on July 12, 2011, 09:10:21 pm
One set of viewings last week, another set tomorrow. Three hour drive each way  :'(
On the one hand, I'm having more luck with the dog than I expected (usually asking for higher deposit); on the other hand my budget only stretches to "grot that could perhaps be tidied up". Also spent two lots of mobile credit chasing letting agents. What part of "I'm only in the county for two days, let me know if dog issue is worth a try and I'll book a damn viewing" is unclear?

Ack.
Oh well!
Viewing one in Brixworth funnily enough  :)
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: Sandy on July 12, 2011, 10:15:17 pm
Brixworth is nice, near enough to the Northampton but rural and not far from Market Harborough.  We have 4 dogs so if we rent it will be very difficult!!
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: ambriel on July 12, 2011, 10:30:22 pm

I was born and raised in Ecton, in rural Northamptonshire, although I now live way up in the north west corner of Scotland.

It's a nice part of the county. The last house we owned before heading north was in a small village called Little Harrowden, which is between Northampton and Kettering, but nearer to Kettering. I can thoroughly recommend Harrowden as a place to live and it's just a few miles from Kettering.

The county remains very rural - lots of greenery and you don't need to drive more than a few miles from the town centre to find yourself in rolling countryside surrounded by fields or wheat or livestock.

The principal road link from Northampton to Kettering is the A43 which is predominately single carriageway and, as a consequence, quite heavily used during the rush hours.

One problem with the county is that it is relatively close to London (~65 miles) and with two mainline rail routes into the capital, so house prices are higher than might otherwise be the case.

With so much of the county remaining in farming you might find it quite easy to find land to rent but... no promises.
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on July 12, 2011, 10:52:03 pm
you could try estate houses on one of the country estates, they are usually more accommodating about dogs (tho thats sometimes cos theyre aware the house hasnt been decorated since 1962...:-))
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: YorkshireLass on July 12, 2011, 10:53:31 pm
Small world - am also viewing a little place in Ecton  ;D

I'm hoping these fancypant commuter types will want their luxury apartments, thus leaving the higgledy piggledy cottages for me and the dog (and veggies...and maybe chickens....)

I did try a couple of estate websites but there ws nothing on; but I don't know the names to be looking for really.
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: ambriel on July 12, 2011, 11:12:10 pm
Small world - am also viewing a little place in Ecton  ;D
Where abouts in the village is it?

There's a website at http://www.ectonvillage.co.uk (http://www.ectonvillage.co.uk)

Regards
Gary
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: Sandy on July 13, 2011, 07:55:28 am
A good contact would be farmers or large land owners as often they have houses to rent out!!!!
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: YorkshireLass on July 13, 2011, 10:20:04 pm
I'll be applying for the Ecton one :) but I won't give away the exact address...until there are random pics of the garden renovation :p
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: ambriel on July 13, 2011, 11:10:20 pm
I'll be applying for the Ecton one :) but I won't give away the exact address...
No prob's. Good luck with it.

I hope to be down that way myself in August - first time in more than four years.
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: YorkshireLass on July 28, 2011, 06:08:08 pm
Got my little cottagey thing in Ecton  ;D
Collecting keys and moving mid-month. Of course my assistants will need refreshments at the local pub (especially as I've no cooker yet).  :yum:

Any recommendations for good little independent shops (from grocers to clothes to farm stuff), pubs, places to visit etc will be welcome  ;)
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: jaykay on July 28, 2011, 07:31:50 pm
Good result  ;D
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: ambriel on July 30, 2011, 03:25:08 pm

Which house is it, now that you've got it ?

Will the Three Horseshoes or the World's End be your watering hole ?
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: YorkshireLass on July 30, 2011, 04:14:12 pm
Just off the high street.

Three Horseshoes is closer, didn't go past the World's End that time. I think they're both worth a shot though  :yum:

I'm now plotting grand ideas for the garden  ::) but think I'd better measure up and look at the soil first. And see what weeds are waiting for me. How boring! Thinking of trying a permaculture-esque approach; lots of edibles/functional plants, mingled in, mulched to avoid digging. Contract says not to remove shrubs, so how do I look after roses? I gather different types need different approaches. To my eye, they're bog standard, about 3 foot tall, at a glance looked healthy. There's also a small twizzly* tree, but not twizzly enough to be corkscrew hazel.

I may post a sketch plan to gather opinions of clever people here  :bouquet: I don't mind experimenting, and failing, but it'd be nice to avoid reaaaaally dumb ideas!

:)




*technical term
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: YorkshireLass on July 30, 2011, 05:24:05 pm
(http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa416/YorkshireLass84/ectonsketch-1.jpg)

T being the twizzly tree, and R being the rose(s?). The dotted lines are existing paths/slabs (an old greenhouse base?). Most of the ground is a dead lawn and some overgrown beds.

At the top of the picture is an outbuilding, with a wall extending almost to the back of the house. I'm guessing not a lot will grow between house and outbuilding - I'm planning to put compost heap there although I'm concerned about attracting rats. The dog also needs a bit to potter around in.
The top left chunk is surrounded by low stone walls, so I'm guessing it's a bit of a heat trap.
The bottom of the plan is the front of the house, so needs pretty, functional things.

Crop wise, I definitely want rhubarb, raspberries, beetroot, lots of herbs, sprouting broccoli, peas, some kind of squash. I'd love a dwarf plum/damson tree but doubt there's really room? I'd be happy to try training a cordon/espalier set-up, but obviously I'm limited in terms of fixing things to walls. I'm not bothered for carrots or spuds, but would like to try salsify and scorzonera. Herbs would include thyme, rosemary, sage, chamomile, marigold, borage, chives, lemonbalm (potted), mint (potted), maybe oregano - the one I have no adds no flavour, maybe comfrey as a chop-and-use-as-mulch thing? I'm intrigued by "egyptian walking onions"!

I've heard that herbs and alpine strawberries can be slotted into gaps in vertical surfaces - maybe around the edge of the suntrap? And that dogwood can be grown to provide your peasticks?

I'm going to begin with lasagne gardening i.e. slap a load of cardboard down and mulch the living daylight out of it - even if it gets done a corner at a time.

Over to you.....  :farmer:

Edit - changed to a labelled sketch
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: deepinthewoods on July 30, 2011, 06:03:34 pm
i wouldnt put the compost heap in the cold, you want that warm in winter. maybe use that closed area as storage or fence it off for the dogs? it would seem that the a greenhouse would run between  T and R  following east to west, and the veg plot from T to the north maybe? i would have my cucurbits in the stone walled bit if theres enough ventilation and the compost bin near the roses? hth.
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: YorkshireLass on July 30, 2011, 08:05:36 pm
Thank you :)
Yes I was thinking the main stretch on the left would be veg-central! I was being lazy in planning the compost to be as close to the kitchen door as possible, though I don't think it would be good to put it by the front door... perhaps somewhere near the old greenhouse base?

(http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa416/YorkshireLass84/ectonsketch2.jpg)

Still pondering the front garden space. The rose(s) have to stay anyway, might be a good place for pretty herbs - chamomile, marigold?
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: deepinthewoods on July 30, 2011, 09:02:47 pm
maybe compost in the top corner marked for kitchen herbs and herbs in pots on the old greenhouse base to save you breaking it up? i wish now id have been able to plan mine before moving in, i was offered my current veg plot before i was offered the house as well, sods law.
i wouldnt shade the southern sun by planting anything tall towards the bottom left corner.
Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: YorkshireLass on July 30, 2011, 10:49:14 pm
I was playing around with this but I don't want to shade out the front windows? Maybe dwarf tree needs to go up by the compost heap? How small can you get a dwarf tree, anyway?

Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: ambriel on July 31, 2011, 07:04:42 pm
I've been racking my brain trying to work out where off the High Street you are. My cousin's husband own's the Three Horseshoe's but the long-time former owner, Keith Edwards, still manages it for him.

If you go in at all say 'Hi' from me (Gary Sutherland/Marden).

Title: Re: Talk to me about Northamptonshire
Post by: YorkshireLass on October 05, 2011, 07:56:05 pm
So, I did a hi-tec plan in MS Paint, but it won't let me use the text tool? In any case, I've pulled up the greenhouse base (the slabs were just sat on soil) and ordered some seeds for spring! Also planted some lavendar and mulched the front borders.

Here's my list of seeds, it's big! But it's a case of try a few of each, see what survives, etc. Plus a lot are herbs and will be scattered in the ornamental bits.

Veg

    Cauliflower
    Sprouting broccoli
    Kale
    Beetroot
    Carrot
    Pea
    Runner bean
    Leek
    Squash (if room)
    Kohl rabi (easy to grow, may sacrifice for something nicer)
    Welsh onion (perennial)
    Mooli (maybe)
    Sea kale
    Samphire
    Salsify
    Scorzonera
    Winter Purslane

Herbs

    Chives
    Basil
    Parsely
    Sage
    Thyme
    Rosemary
    Lavender
    Calendula
    Chamomile
    Mint
    Borage
    Tarragon
    Hyssop
    Sweet Woodruff
    Winter Savory

Fruit

    Cranberry (looking a bit ill)
    Alpine strawberry
    Autumn raspberry*
    Dwarf tree* Almond, apple, plum??
    Climbing berry* Honeyberry? Wineberry??

Comments welcome! I'm trying to consider using vertical wall space as much as possible, hence the climbing fruit.  :yum: