Pictures of Deene

About Deene

Captivatingly beautiful in the quiet Northamptonshire countryside is the delightful village of Deene. The village has been dominated for centuries by Deene Park, once the home of James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, who in 1854 led the ill-fated charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava. It is from the earl that we now have that interesting head garment - the Balaclava. During his lifetime the earl amassed a worthy collection of military uniforms and various militaria, all of which is on display in Deene Park which has been the Brudenell family home since the 16th-century.

All that remains of the origins of the parish church of St.Peter's is the 13th-century west tower, the rest of the church is a restoration of 1868 by Sir M. Digby Wyatt. Lord Cradigan's widow paid for the restoration and the church was dedicated to his memory. The church has several reminders of the past which include commemorative monuments to the Brudenell family, a bust of Anne, Duchess of Richmond who died in 1722 and a monument by Sir J.E.Boehm to the 7th earl who died in 1868. This is a beautifully decorated church and it is well worth taking time to look around.

Deene Park, is a turreted and towered house that has been preserved in it's original state. It has wonderful gardens and a magnificent lake gilded with graceful swans. The gardens are noted for a fine collection of rare trees and shrubs.

The village of Deene is a spacious village, and time spent sauntering around will reward you with glimpses of pleasant tile roofed cottages built of stone from nearby Weldon quarry. Close-by is Rockingham Forest which provides some pictureque walks and picnic areas and Kirby Hall is another interesting house that is well worth seeing.