Archery Road – The original name suggested by the P.C. in 1949 was Beech Crescent or Road, older residents remember the magnificent row of beech trees that grew along the side of the field. However, it was noted, “Archery Road had its supporters.” The field-name in this area was Archery Ground, it has also been known as Glebe Land & Rectory Field. The Reverend William Buckley (1817-1892) was Rector Of All Saints Church in Middleton for 39 years and is known to have been an excellent sportsman – particularly cricket and archery (he was an enthusiastic member of Deddington Archery Association). Old maps of the village clearly show raised ground, said to be located behind the targets, where Rev Buckley and friends practised their sport.
Barnett Road - Constructed by the Swindon Construction Copany and officially opened in 1939. It was named after Mr & Mrs Barnett of The Holt who gave the Ware Memorial to the village in 1919. Dedicated to the fallen of World War I, it was also in memory of their only son, Ronald, who died of meningitis at the age of 16.
Braggingtons Lane – Previously known as Braggingtons Yard (1881 census), this was originally a cul-de-sac. The name is derived from the surname of James Braggington a Shoe Maker, whose father John, had been a Beer Retailer & Master Shoe Maker in Upper Middleton. Shoemakers were known by the name of SNOBS in Northamptonshire, for reasons that are unclear. However the family had a profitable business and were able to purchase a number of cottages in this area, giving their name to the lane. In 1841 (census) this area was known as CORK YARD – origin unknown.
Bull Baulk – At the time of the Enclosure Award (1769), much of the land in this area was awarded to William Bull, a farmer whose family had cultivated the land for generations. The old method of farming used oxen to plough the fields and as the end of a strip was reached the oxen would be turned in a circle to start the return journey. This method of ploughing raised the level of the strip of land and the higher ground often became a village footpath as the ground was drier. The Latin word for such a strip is Balcus or Baulk. The derivation of this name was lost over time and a popular misconception was that the name was associated with the Rector & his hobby of archery (see Archery Road), hence the naming of two other roads in this area as Arrow Close & Bowman Close. More recently suggestions for the houses at the far end of Bull Baulk were FIELDVIEW & LONG BOW, neither were adopted.
Cheney Gardens - Once the site of Middleton Garden Centre - Cheney is derived from the name of the French Barons who were awarded the land after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Dands Drive & Dands Close – The name is derived from Dands Ground as the field was owned by Thomas Dand who died in 1869 at the age of 77. He is listed in the Middleton Cheney census of 1851 & 61, as a Landed Proprietor, owning 10 acres of land and employing one man. The P.C. recommended the name in 1967. At the time of the Enclosure Award this area was known as Church Hedge Furlong.
Glovers Lane – It is known that a Tanyard used to be located at the bottom of the lane and legend has it that gloves were made in this area. One of the cottages was named Gauntletts which bears out this supposition. However the name is more likely to be derived from the surname of two elderly spinsters, Jane and Louise Glover, who owned a number of cottages in this area between the 1870s and 1880s.
Hailsham Court – Named after the first Lord Hailsham (Douglas Hogg 1872-1950) who was a Statesman & Lord Chancellor , also Secretary of State for War. His son from his first marriage, Quintin Hogg, was a Conservative M.P. who very nearly became Prime Minister after Harold Macmillan. The Hailshams lived in Middleton House (on the opposite side of the Main Road), which is now the home of BSSA.
Horton Estate – Originally known as Green Farm Estate the P.C. recommended HORTON ROAD, HORTON CRESCENT and HORTON CLOSE (later renamed HORTON DRIVE by Brackley R.D.C.) in May 1962. The builder suggested St. Anne’s Drive, Jayne’s Close and Sandra Close after members of his family but these were replaced by alternative names recommended by the P.C., namely POPLARS DRIVE (the name of the farm in this area), HORTON CLOSE and KINGSTON CLOSE (see Rose Hall Lane). The Hortons had been Lords of the Manor in the 1800s, therefore the estate commemorates their name.
Kings Stile – In 1968 the P.C. suggested Kings Close, Winfield (the Farmer’s name), and Tombs Ground (the field-name). Brackley Rural District Council recommended Kings Stile as local legend records that King Charles I rested here after the battle of Cropredy Bridge (1644) at the time of the English Civil War. It is recorded that on “Monday morning (1st July) about four of the clock, his Majesty, with all his army, drums beating, colours flying and trumpets sounding, marched through Middleton Cheney, from thence to Farthinghoe and Aynhoe on the hill”.
Lexton Gardens - Originally the garden of Lexton House, more research is required to discover why the house bears this name.
Middle Way – originally a footpath that linked Upper & Lower Middleton Cheney.
Peacocks Close – named after a field, which had been owned by William Peacock, a Butcher & Greengrocer (Whellan’s Directory 1849).
Queen Street – Street named in 1837 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Coronation. It is one of the few street names mentioned by name in the 1841 census. There used to be an area known as PINGS YARD located behind Pings Cottage (near the post office). William Ping was a Plumber & Glazier who owned at least 3 small cottages in the yard. Further along Queen Street was another yard known as the BARRACK YARD further investigation will be needed to discover the origins of this name.
Rose Hall Lane – The large, double fronted house, built in 1844 gives this lane it’s name, it has also been known as ROSE LANE. Built by a farmer, Richard Kingston who, in 1851 is recorded as owning 15 acres of land, employing one labourer. His wife Harriet, also worked on the farm and by 1881 (census) he owned at least two further houses known as Kingstons Cottages. Richard Kingston’s fields formed part of the present day Horton Estate and his new farmhouse overlooked the open fields, which have now been replaced by houses.
Royal Oak Lane - The Royal Oak has seen a number of uses and in 1901 is listed as the home of William Tuckey, Carpenter and Beer Seller, his wife Miriam and nine children between the ages of 12 and 2 months. This road was previously known as Chapel Lane.
Salmons Lane - Previously known as Locks Lane, after the local baker, James Lock (1881 census), and Stockleys Lane (1841). Robert Salmon was listed as the local Baker whose Bakehouse was valued at £4.00 (1818 list of Proprietors & Premises in Middleton Cheney)
Stanwell Estate – Known locally as “Bobs Ground” when this estate was being developed (1962) it was called the Clarkes Estate. The field was part of Stanwell Farm, therefore the P.C. recommended that the roads be called STANWELL DRIVE, STANWELL CLOSE & STANWELL LEA (1962).
Swan Close - Named after the gentleman who had previously owned the field. Mr Swan lived in Jubilee House (now demolished) which was located near to the present-day shops in the High Street.
Tenlands – This name is derived from an old field-name which has been handed down from Medieval times when the farming method was that of “Ridge & Furrow.” A nearby field was marked out into ten strips (or lands), each strip being farmed individually. Five lands at the top of the field ran from north to south and the five at the bottom from east to west.
The Moors Drive – The original field name in this area and known to be the site of a well-documented skirmish (1643) between Parliamentarians and Cromwell’s men during the English Civil War. Brackley Builders Ltd., had originally suggested Astrop Close or Waye when the houses were built in 1967.
Washle Drive (also Tulbrook Stones, Ashlade, Longburges) - are all field names located on the old Enclosure Maps of Middleton Cheney. The terms Manor Close and Home Close - are names derived from land belonging to the Lord of the Manor. Old maps show that a Manor Farm was situated where Middleton House now stands and was probably the location of one of the three original Manors which, together, formed the village.
Waters Lane & Slade Leas - Old maps clearly show the name of the field in this area as WATER SLADE LEAS. Roughtly translated from old English as "a-pond-in-a-dip-in-a-meadow" - shortened to "Water Slade" probably became WATERS LANE. More recently the P.C recommended preserving the remainder of the old field name - SLADE LEAS.
Yew Tree Close - Takes its name from the name of the Farmhouse, now called VALENCIENNE. In the 1940's Yew Tree Farm was owned by George Frederick Farley and this had formed part of the estate purchased by William Horton when he became Lord of the Manor in 1793. The fields belonging to this farm were located on the right hand side of the road to Brackley, as far as the old railway line. Fur fields across the old enclsure map clearly sows the field name Valenciennes. We can only speculate why a field in Northamptonshire bears the name of a town in Northen France. However, Valenciennes was notable for fine lace as, indeed, was Middleton Cheney in the early 1800's. William Horton had married a French wife (Elizabeth Sufflee), and we know that Lace-Making was one of their business interests.
Where are they now?
Lower Middleton
Pratts Lane - originally ran between Rose Hall Lane & Royal Oak Lane. The name derived from the surname of a retired Farmer, Joseph Pratt who owned a number of cottages in this area (1881 census).
In 1841 this area had been known as Fuddlem Lane (12 cottages) and Spencers Lane (6 cottages). Evidently this was a very close-knit community although the houses were very dilapidated. In 1934 fourteen cottages, housing seventy-eight people were demolished.
The Leys - was located behind the cottages facing Middle Green and is now used as garage access. At one time there were 12 cottages in this lane.
Upper Middleton
Brewhouse Lane - runs between Wisteria House and the Charity Shop. The name is no longer in use but seems to indicate that beer was produced in the locality.
Penns Lane - named after Robert Penn of “Independent Means” (1841 census);
Hanleys Lane - no known origin (1841 census)
Gold Street – probably the lane near Windmill Farm / Nursery (1841 census)
Gibbards Yard – located in Queen Street, in 1841 there were 5 cottages here.
Red Lion Street – now known as HIGH STREET.
Parsontide Way – now known as ASTROP ROAD
researched by Nancy Long (Voluntary village archivist)