The history of Bakehouse Farm and Cottage offers a fascinating local perspective on the broader events and trends in England over the past 450 years. The original datestone on the front of the house suggests it was built around 1574, making it one of the oldest properties in Potterspury. Originally a timber-framed structure, it was constructed during the reign of Elizabeth I, a period when 90% of England’s 3.2 million population lived in rural areas.

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Details about the property’s early years remain scarce, but in 1680, Thomas Addington owned the farmhouse and paid hearth tax. By around 1700, the building was likely deteriorating, as many Tudor-era properties in the village were. Major renovations were carried out by Thomas’s son, William, which included encasing the timber frame in stone—likely sourced from Duffers Hill, the land between Potterspury and Yardley Gobion. During this time, it’s possible the large inglenook fireplace was added or updated, along with the construction of a large baking oven behind it. The heavy oak lintel above the fireplace bears candle marks, traditionally made to ward off evil spirits and prevent them from entering down the chimney. The datestone was also updated to reflect William Addington’s initials and the year 1707, likely marking the completion of the renovations.

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In about 1718, Bakehouse Farm was acquired by the 2nd Duke of Grafton, and it appears in his 1727/28 survey of the Grafton Estate. By then, it had been leased to Thomas Scrivener (William Addington’s nephew), and the Grafton Rent books reveal the farm was a thriving business, expanding to include multiple properties and over 200 acres of land. This was a time of agricultural innovations that were increasing farming productivity. When Thomas Scrivener passed away in 1757, his wife managed the farm until their sons came of age, a common occurrence when the male head of a household died prematurely. Several other widows in the area successfully managed farms during this period. The farm continued to flourish, and the Scrivener's likely adopted new farming techniques influenced by George III, also known as Farmer George, who introduced advancements on his estates in Richmond and Windsor. During this time, the 3rd Duke of Grafton became Prime Minister, bringing national attention to Potterspury.

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Like other wealthy landowners of the era, the Duke of Grafton sought to expand his estate and acquired numerous properties across Northamptonshire. However, the financial strain caused by the Napoleonic Wars led the government to raise taxes, forcing the Duke to increase rents on his tenants. By 1816, John Scrivener managed the farm, but financial difficulties began to surface. Rent arrears led the Duke to issue a notice for John to vacate the property in 1822. However, the Duke struggled to lease the farm at a profitable rate and allowed John and his family to remain, farming a smaller portion of the land for a reduced rent. This arrangement continued until 1832, when John paid his last rent payment and transitioned into a career as a butcher in the village.

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At the national level, farm labourers were pushing for higher wages, which led to significant events such as the arrest of the Tolpuddle Martyrs in 1834. These individuals were advocating for better conditions for rural workers. Many labourers moved to industrial cities for higher pay, causing farms to struggle with maintaining their workforce and, as a result, their productivity. In 1834, John’s nephew, Richard Scrivener, took over the farm lease and worked alongside his elderly father, Thomas, his sister, Margaret, and his brother, Joseph. Despite their efforts, the economic hardships continued. In an attempt to diversify, Margaret Scrivener purchased the windmill on Duffers Hill, but farming remained unprofitable, and times remained difficult at Bakehouse Farm.

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By 1875, the 8th Duke of Grafton owned 95% of the land in Potterspury and most of the properties, relying on his estate’s rental income. However, this income began to decline. Job and George Scrivener were living at Bakehouse Farm and working the windmill, but profits were small, and the rents paid to the Duke were less than expected. Realising the need to sell some property, the 10th Duke sold Bakehouse Farm and Cottage to Lord Penrhyn of Wicken in the 1890s and by 1901, the Stewart family had taken up residence there.

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At the close of Queen Victoria’s reign in 1901, the census listed Charles Stewart, a farmer and carrier, living with his wife Mary (Ratcliffe) and their children Charles, James, and John, as well as their 6-year-old grandson Charlie Foster. The Stewarts seemed to manage the remaining farm land successfully, and on September 22, 1910, Charles Stewart Sr. purchased Bakehouse Farm from Lord Penrhyn.

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When the Great War broke out in 1914, Charles’s son, Charles Stewart Jr., enlisted with the 5th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. In 1916, while on leave, he married Elizabeth Tarry from Potterspury. Tragically, Charles Jr. was killed in action on October 8, 1918, and is buried in Aisne, France. His name is inscribed on the War Memorial at St. Nicholas’s Church in Potterspury.

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The Stewarts continued to live at Bakehouse Farm and, over the years, had several run-ins with the law, particularly related to animal husbandry. In 1933, John Stewart was injured when a lorry collided with his cart, crushing his legs. Charles Stewart Sr. passed away in 1934, and the farm passed to his son John and grandson Charlie Foster, who worked the land together throughout the Second World War.

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In 1944, a legal agreement between John Stewart and Charlie Foster likely divided the property into two separate units—Bakehouse Farm and Bakehouse Cottage. During the 1950s and 1960s, a travelling fair and circus owned by the Strudwick family set up at the back of Bakehouse Farm for the winter. Many villagers remember seeing the rides being tested before they were taken on the road. Charlie Foster lived at Bakehouse Farm until he died in 1978, after which John Butterworth purchased the property. He was likely responsible for its renovation and conversion into three separate homes, as it stands today. Butterworth, connected to Reindeer Antiques, left a plaque with his initials on the southern end of the property.