image displayed if flash reader not installed

The following quotation is taken from “Borough Hill and its History” by William Edgar (1923):

“Borough Hill is celebrated for the magnificent view obtainable from its summit. This view including as it does some of the best of Midland scenery, well-wooded hills, fertile valleys and extensive plains melting into a distance bounded only by atmospheric conditions, forms a panorama unequalled in the county... on a clear day the range of vision extends into seven other counties, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Leicestershire, Bedfordshire, and Buckinghamshire.”

The Hill is one of the largest and most important Iron Age hillforts in the country and the entire area is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The “Danetree Village” housing estate will effectively surround the monument and destroy all the views and the setting of this important national treasure. The vistas of unspoilt countryside will be replaced by those of 50 foot high houses and factories.

On their web site Daventry District Council describe the hill in the following terms:-

“Borough Hill is a large area of grassland spanning almost 150 acres. It is an ideal place for walking, picnicking and from which to enjoy wonderful views over open countryside.”  - Not for much longer!

One of the superb views from Borough Hill (to be destroyed)

View NE from Borough Hill

These are some of the comments made by Daventry District Council's own consultants (Atkins Consultants Ltd) on the prospect of building to the east of Borough Hill:-

“This option (Danetree Village) is by far the most damaging to the wider landscape. It radically alters the setting of Borough Hill, and much of its length can be seen from a wide area of West Northamptonshire. It creates a broad flank with no clear barrier to further expansion towards the M1, rendering further unplanned expansion difficult to resist.”

“Radically degrades rural setting of Borough Hill. Development visible over wide area of countryside, particularly at night. Views from Long Buckby, Little Brington, Norton, and Dodford affected. Comprehensively breaches natural boundary of Daventry urban area, leaving no natural barrier to prevent urban sprawl swallowing Norton, Dodford and Weedon.”