Revised 27th September 2005

Polebrook is a quiet village of some 400-odd inhabitants, tucked in the north-east corner of Northamptonshire, almost in Cambridgeshire. Its buildings are mainly stone, so that it looks like a displaced part of the Cotswolds. It has a church, one pub, a primary school, and no shops.

So why a website? Well, like many English villages, Polebrook has a remarkable past: some things make it special. 

In addition to this website www.polebrook.org.uk there is a fine one devoted to the American Forces' presence at Polebrook airfield during the Second World War. This is at www.Polebrook.com. An excellent book called "Valor at Polebrook" has been sighted in the Oundle bookshop, and there are also two fine histories of the village available.

Please enjoy this site. 30 or so of you find it each week, so feel free to send in comments and info. 

Chris Jones (one of two in the village who live 50 yards apart, but The Web Master will definitely reach me).

New Stuff

Have you seen the new Reminiscences page, a compilation of replies to the website over the last four years? Can you settle one and for all whether Clark Gable did or did not live in the village? Lots of people now think it is a mistake made because of the house called The Gables, which is probably called that because it has gables.

Polebrook Trivia

Did you know that:

• When Lord Rothschild became the owner of Ashton Wold and the village of Ashton, he also got most of Polebrook, including the hall? And that he didn't buy it, but got it as part payment of a debt, letting the debtor off the rest?
• That there is a metal plate on the village green that marks the site of the old village pump, the sole source of water in the village until the late 1920s/early 30s?
• That the drummer of Rock super-group Cream, Ginger Baker, lived in Polebrook in the 1970s and trained polo ponies for Dame Miriam Rothschild?
• That the village church has a one-handed clock, built by a relative of Oliver Cromwell?