Blatherwycke, recorded as "Blarewiche" in the Domesday Book of 1086, was a significant settlement during the Norman period. The village once housed three manors and two churches, reflecting its medieval prominence.

Holy Trinity Church - Dating back to the 11th century, Holy Trinity Church showcases architectural elements from the Norman, Gothic, and Gothic Revival periods. The church houses memorials to the Stafford and O'Brien families, as well as a monument to the poet Thomas Randolph

The estate was formally designed as a sporting area in 1269, as is one of the oldest sporting areas in the country. Henry Engaine, who inherited the estate received permission to enclose ten acres of his arable land to create deer park, so that the kings beasts (the deer) could go freely in and out. This was the first radical alteration to the Blatherwycke landscape since the original settlement, and defined the estates function of a place for recreation but also for augmenting their food supply.

In 1448, the parishes of Holy Trinity and St. Mary Magdalene were united, with the latter's church subsequently demolished.

Declared redundant in 1976, the church is now under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, preserving its historical and architectural legacy.

The estate transitioned to the O'Brien family through the marriage of Henry O'Brien to a Stafford co-heiress. Between 1720 and 1724, Henry commissioned architect Thomas Ripley to construct a new Palladian-style mansion, Blatherwycke Hall, replacing the earlier Elizabethan house. The estate's demesne was expanded, the old village removed, and extensive walled gardens were established.

The estate transitioned to the O'Brien family through the marriage of Henry O'Brien to a Stafford co-heiress. Between 1720 and 1724, Henry commissioned architect Thomas Ripley to construct a new Palladian-style mansion, Blatherwycke Hall, replacing the earlier Elizabethan house. The estate's demesne was expanded, the old village removed, and extensive walled gardens were established.

The estate also included extensive walled gardens and a stable block, the latter bearing the inscription "D, OB 1770" for Donatus O'Brien.

A poignant story from the estate's history involves Anthony Williams, a former slave who served as a boatswain for Stafford O'Brien. Williams tragically drowned in Blatherwycke Lake in 1836. His grave, located at the edge of Holy Trinity Churchyard, bears an inscription reflecting his journey from slavery to freedom

By the mid-20th century, Blatherwycke Hall had fallen into disrepair, a fate common among many English country houses in the post-war era due to financial constraints and changing societal structures.

In 1948, the last Stafford O'Brien owner demolished the hall, reportedly stating, "My family built this house; none other have lived here and none ever shall, for I will pull it down."

Today, the stable block bearing the inscription "D, OB 1770" for Donatus O'Brien remains, serving as a testament to the estate's storied past.

The Mill – Constructed in the early 19th century, Blatherwycke Mill is a two- and three-storey building made from squared coursed limestone with ashlar dressings and a Welsh slate roof. Its design features Gothic-style arch-headed casement windows and a half-hipped roof with ashlar gable parapets and kneelers. The rear elevation reveals three storeys due to the sloping ground, with large cross casements and lunette windows. Internally, remnants of the drive shaft remain, indicating its original function as a watermill. The mill is currently disused and was designated a Grade II listed building on 12 October 1988, recognizing its special architectural and historic interest. Over time, as industrial processes evolved and the need for traditional watermills declined, Blatherwycke Mill fell into disuse. Despite this, its architectural features have been preserved, and its status as a listed building ensures protection against unauthorized alterations. The mill stands as a testament to the estate's historical landscape and the broader narrative of rural industrial development in Northamptonshire.

The sailing club – From its beginning the lake was designed for use as well as recreation. Early maps show a sailing boat and the boat house situated just noeth of the iron bridge crossing. Between the ewars the Blatherwycke Sailing club mainted five ‘sharpies’, dingys with particularly shallow draft specially build for the club.

The Blatherwycke Estate, like many rural communities, saw its residents actively participate in the war effort. A memorial tablet in Holy Trinity Church commemorates six men from the village who lost their lives during the Great War: Wilfred Dams, Alfred Hercock, David Henry Hercock, James Hercock, John Charles Victor Hercock, and Arthur William Trayford.

Additionally, a Roll of Honour within the church lists 26 individuals from Blatherwycke who served in the war, highlighting the village's substantial contribution relative to its size.

Blatherwycke Hall – Blatherwycke Hall was repurposed during the Second World War to accommodate Polish military personnel. The hall served as a temporary residence for these soldiers, providing them with shelter and a base of operations while they were stationed in the United Kingdom. The Polish soldiers housed at Blatherwycke Hall were part of the Polish Armed Forces in the West, a military formation that operated under British command after the fall of Poland. These forces included soldiers who had escaped from occupied Poland and those who had been released from Soviet labor camps. After the war, many Polish servicemen faced the difficult decision of returning to a homeland now under communist control or remaining in exile. A significant number chose to stay in the UK, aided by the British government's establishment of the Polish Resettlement Corps, which facilitated their integration into British society .

Prisoner of War camp – The Italian POW camp was situated along the Blatherwycke Road, near Mill House. It functioned as a satellite hostel under Camp 106 at Stamford and was later reassigned to Camp 259 at Weekley in August 1947. These hostels typically comprised temporary structures, such as Nissen huts, designed to accommodate between 30 to 300 prisonersItalian POWs at Blatherwycke were primarily engaged in agricultural work on local farms and the Blatherwycke Estate itself. Their labor was crucial in sustaining food production during a period of significant manpower shortages. Interactions between the POWs and local residents were generally amicable, with some prisoners forming lasting friendships within the community.

Kings Cliffe Airfield, located in Northamptonshire, England, played a significant role during World War II as both a Royal Air Force (RAF) and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) station. Construction of the airfield began in 1940, and it officially opened in October 1941 as a satellite to RAF Wittering. Initially it served as a base for No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron: Formed from American volunteers, they arrived with Spitfire Vb aircraft in September 1941. No. 266 (Rhodesian) Squadron: Arrived in October 1941. No. 485 (New Zealand) Squadron: Took station in July 1942. No. 93 Squadron: Arrived in September 1942.

The RAF presence at Kings Cliffe ceased in August 1943

In January 1943, Kings Cliffe was designated as USAAF Station 367, becoming the most northerly and westerly of all Eighth Air Force fighter stations.

The 56th Fighter Group arrived in January 1943 from Bridgeport AAF, Connecticut, bringing with them P-47 Thunderbolts. They used the base for training and familiarization with RAF fighter control procedures but did not conduct operational missions from Kings Cliffe. In April 1943, they moved to RAF Horsham St Faith.

On 26 August 1943, the 20th Fighter Group arrived from March Field, California. Initially equipped with P-38 Lightnings, they began combat operations in December 1943, primarily escorting bombers over Europe. In July 1944, they transitioned to P-51 Mustangs. The group was nicknamed the "Loco Group" due to their effective attacks on locomotives and other ground targets.

Glen Millars Final Performance, On 3 October 1944, Major Glenn Miller and his Army Air Forces Band performed their last hangar concert at Kings Cliffe. This event was notable as Miller disappeared over the English Channel later that year. A memorial now stands at the site to commemorate this performance.

After World War II, the airfield was used by the RAF for armament storage. It was eventually closed and returned to agricultural use in January 1959. Today, remnants of RAF Kings Cliffe, including parts of the runway and several buildings, remain. Memorials have been established to honor the personnel who served there, including the Glenn Miller Memorial and a war memorial dedicated to British, Commonwealth, Belgian, and American soldiers.

For visits to the Airfield please contact us

Most of the cottages in the village were built in the time of the Stafford O’Brien family’s occupation of the Estate and their coat of arms can be seen on many of the walls of the cottages. The Old School House still remains together with the Gatehouse Lodge and the Old Rectory which stands on the side of the Willow Brook adjacent to the medieval bridge at the head of the lake. Estate cottages are occasionally available for long term rental, please contact the Savills Lincoln office.