Woodford Halse is a village in the Daventry district of Northamptonshire in England, and is situated approximately 10 miles (16 km) south-west of Daventry and 15 miles (24 km) north-east of Banbury. The village is one of three in the parish of Woodford cum Membris, the other two being Hinton and West Farndon; these are separated from Woodford Halse by the infant River Cherwell. The parish as a whole had a population of 3,456 at the 2001 census; Woodford Halse on its own accounted for less than half of this figure, Hinton being the largest of the three villages. West Farndon lies on the route on the Jurassic Way long distance footpath. Woodford Halse also contains a primary school, Woodford Halse C of E School. The school has one of the largest playing fields of any Northamptonshire School, and holds an annual cross country race, attracting over 700 competitors from more than thirty schools. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Daventry district is a large local government district of western Northamptonshire, England. ... Northamptonshire (abbreviated Northants or Nhants) is a landlocked county in central England with a population of 629,676 (2001 census). ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... For other uses see Daventry (disambiguation) Daventrys High Street Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England with a population of 22,367 (2001 census). ... The modern Castle Quay Shopping Centre in Banbury alongside the Oxford Canal, with Banbury Museum in the background Banbury is a market town on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, England. ... A parish is a type of administrative subdivision. ... Hinton is the name of some places in the world: Hinton, Alberta, Canada Hinton, Iowa, United States of America Hinton, Oklahoma, United States of America Hinton, West Virginia, United States of America Hinton, South Gloucestershire, England Hinton Township, Michigan, United States of America Hinton St. ... West Farndon is a hamlet in the English county of Northamptonshire. ... The River Cherwell is a river which flows through the midlands of England. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United Kingdom has taken a census of its population every ten years since 1801, with the exception of 1941. ... The Jurassic Way is a designated and signed long-distance footpath that connects the Oxfordshire town of Banbury with the Lincolnshire town of Stamford in England. ... Long-distance trails (or long-distance tracks, paths, footpaths or greenways) are trails or footpaths covering large distances, typically 50 km or more, used for rambling (that is, hiking or backpacking). ...

The village became notable for the role it played as an important railway centre. Originally it seemed destined not to have a railway at all, as its nearest stations were at Byfield (about two miles west), and Moreton Pinkney (three miles south east), both on the East and West Junction Railway (later part of the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway), opened in July 1873, and no other lines seemed likely ever to be built in such a thinly populated area. However, in the late 1890s the village found itself on a major trunk route, the Great Central Railway, the last main line to be constructed from the north of England to London, opened in March 1899. The station was originally called Woodford & Hinton, but was renamed Woodford Halse in November 1948. Byfield may refer to: Byfield, Massachusetts Byfield, Northamptonshire Byfield, Queensland Byfield National Park, Queensland, Australia This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Moreton Pinkney is a village and civil parish in the English county of Northamptonshire. ... The Stratford-Upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway (SMJR) was a minor railway company in the United Kingdom. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Great Central Railway (GCR) was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 on the completion of its London Extension. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Year 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ...

As well as making connections with the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway mentioned above, there was also an important section built to connect the GCR with the Great Western Railway at Banbury. Additionally, a major locomotive depot and marshalling yards were also sited at Woodford Halse (plans to locate carriage sheds there too were dropped), and to house the railway workers several rows of terraced dwellings and a street of shops were built, all of this giving a once small village an industrial look that seemed alien to its surroundings. The parish population eventually peaked at just under 2,000, at which time Woodford Halse even had its own cinema. GCR is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, including: Great Central Railway - A railway company and former main line in the United Kingdom. ... The original Bristol Temple Meads station, first terminus of the GWR, is the building to the left of this picture The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company, linking South West England, the West Country and South Wales with London. ... The modern Castle Quay Shopping Centre in Banbury alongside the Oxford Canal, with Banbury Museum in the background Banbury is a market town on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, England. ...

The GCR was at times a very busy route, and the depot and yards at Woodford Halse a hive of activity, but this was not enough to guarantee survival when the Beeching purges of the 1960s took place. The Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway had already closed, in April 1952; in September 1966 most of the GCR, including all the remaining lines converging on Woodford Halse, were axed. All tracks and most railway buildings were later cleared, leaving behind a barren wasteland. The population fell sharply as well, as many former railway workers and their families left the area, but new developments in recent decades have brought the population up to its present levels. However, where the GCR line, depot and yards were sited there is now a tree plantation and a small modern industrial estate. Woodford Halse is once again a very quiet place, but one can still see evidence of its railway past. Dr. Richard Beeching later Baron Beeching (21 April 1913 — 23 March 1985) was an British physicist and engineer, and former chairman of British Railways. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ...

To visit the school website go to http://www.woodfordhalse.northants.sch.uk