With the help of a Heritage Lottery grant, Burton Latimer Heritage Society has purchased the returns from The National Archives that relate to farms and smallholdings in the Parish of Burton Latimer and these have been summarised below. Some refer to farms that have land in both Burton Latimer and other parishes and it will noted that all the large farms are occupied by tenant farmers, only some of the smaller holdings being owned by the occupier. The principal landlords were Capt. J.L. Harpur, who was living at Barton Seagrave while his home at Burton Latimer Hall was occupied by the Land Army, Burton Latimer Glebe (to help pay the Rector’s stipend) and the ironstone company Richard Thomas Ltd. of Irthlingborough. The efficiency of several farms was affected by the requisitioning by the War Office of 1000 acres at the Wold for use as an army training area.

Some surveys are less informative than others. Whether this is due to some of the pages being lost or not returned is difficult to establish after over sixty years. Because there were over 180 questions on the full set of forms, some of the questions needing more than one answer, we have summarised some of the headings in the tables that can be seen when you click on the farm name. Some information such as water and electricity supply, farm roads, use of fertilizers and infestation by vermin or weeds has been left out altogether but can be supplied to anyone with an interest in such things!

To read a summary of the survey results, click on the Ministry Reference Number beside the name below or on the reference number on one of the two maps shown below, where more detailed information can be seen.