Podington, Bedfordshire

Description
Podington or Puddington, a village and a parish in Bedfordshire. The village stands 1 1/2 mile E of the boundary with Northamptonshire, 3 miles SSE of Irchester station on the main line of the M.R., and 4 1/2 S by W of Wellingborough.. It has a post and money order office under Wellingborough; telegraph office, Wollaston. The parish contains also the hamlet of Hinwick, and comprises 3516 acres; population of the civil parish, 504; of the ecclesiastical, 424. There is a parish council of seven members for the villages of Podington and Farndish and the hamlet of Hinwick. The manor belongs to the Orlebar family. Hinwick Hall is an ancient mansion-dating in part from the Tudor period-standing amidst pleasant grounds. Hinwick House is a fine-mansion of stone which was erected in the early part of the 18th century. It is now used as a preparatory school for Eton, Harrow, &c. It has beautiful grounds, and it contains some valuable paintings and a good library. The old manor house is now used as a farmhouse. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ely; net value, £55 with residence. The church is of successive dates, from Norman to Decorated English; consists of nave, aisles, and chancel, with tower and crocketed Perpendicular broach spire; and contains an ancient Norman font and a brass of 1518. The industries include the manufacture of pillow lace.