Helmdon

Helmdon
St Mary Magdalene parish church
Helmdon
Helmdon shown within Northamptonshire
Population	899 (2011 Census)
OS grid reference	SP5843
• London	72 miles (116 km)
Civil parish	Helmdon
District	South Northamptonshire
Shire county	Northamptonshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Brackley
Postcode district	NN13
Dialling code	01295

Police	Northamptonshire
Fire	Northamptonshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Northamptonshire South
Website	Welcome to Helmdon
List of places UK England Northamptonshire 52°05′20″N 1°08′53″W / 52.089°N 1.148°W / 52.089; -1.148Coordinates: 52°05′20″N 1°08′53″W / 52.089°N 1.148°W / 52.089; -1.148

Helmdon is a village and civil parish about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Brackley in South Northamptonshire, England. The village is on the River Tove, which is flanked by meadows that separate the village into two. The parish includes the hamlets of Astwell and Falcutt and covers more than 1,550 acres (630 ha). The 2011 Census recorded a parish population of 899.

Helmdon's toponym is derived from the Old English for "Helma's Valley". In the reign of Edward the Confessor two Saxons, Alwin and Godwin, held the manor "freely", i.e. without a feudal overlord. They were dispossessed after the Norman Conquest of England and the Domesday Book of 1086 records that Robert, Count of Mortain held a manor at "Elmedene". In the 12th century on William de Torewelle (Turville) held the manor of "Helmendene" of the fee of Leicester. On both occasions the manor was assessed at four hides. The toponym continued to evolve: in about 1340 it was recorded as Helmydene.

William's descendants continued as the lesser lords of Helmdon until the 16th century. In 1317 Nicholas de Turville granted 97 ¹⁄₂ acres at Helmdon to his daughter Sarah and her husband Robert Lovett. In 1562 George Lovett sold Helmdon to Lancelot Wilton of Brackley, who 16 months later sold it on to Magdalen College, Oxford. The college remained Helmdon's largest landowner until at least the 18th century, by which time Worcester College, Oxford also held a significant estate in the parish.

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