Northants – Page 3 – SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

Rutland: Visiting Rockingham Castle! (29.7.2025)

30/07/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Despite visiting Duddington (in Northants) regularly since 2009, we had never seen any signs for “Rockingham” – and wondered where this place was. Furthermore, whereas King Henry VIII used to frequent “Nonsuch” (in Sutton and Cheam – where we live) – I am told that King John (1166-1216) of Magna Carta fame, used to spend his leisure time staying at Rockingham Castle – which is near Rockingham village. He used to hunt in the local woods. Apparently, Henry VIII granted the castle (the Norman version of which is currently over 950-years old) to the Watson family (it was leased to Edward Watson in 1544). Prior to this, the general area the castle is now constructed upon possessed a Roman (a coin production industry) – and then a Saxon (Lord Bovi) – presence. The locale of Rockingham (probably the nearby village) is mentioned in the 1066 Doomsday Book – with the castle proper being built between 1066-1071.

Priest House - Easton-on-the-Hill - Family

Easton-on-the-Hill: Priest House [Chantry] 15th Century! (28.7.2025)

28/07/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Although we have visited the general area a number of time – we had never seen this exhibit or been told about it. As we are currently staying in the locale – this place came-up in an internet search about something else. Like many such attractions, even at the height of Summer, there is only ever a trickle of visitors – which is a good thing for all concerned. We were handed the key, instructed to be careful on the old spiralling stone staircase, and turn-off all the lights when we are finished. There is even a toilet on site that is accessed with a key. Everything was perfectly clean, tidy, and in good order. Our two-daughters watched a short video film about the area, its history and industry! The photographs will tell the story of what we saw. A truly magnificent historical site that emerged out of the single most important and Revolutionary event (the “Dissolution of the Monasteries”) that forged modern Britain and the world!

Northants: Ancient Duddington – Tixover Bridge! (27.7.2025)

27/07/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

As soon as we entered the graveyard – everyone started shouting-out the name “Wyles”! I was astonished as I had become so used to having a name that hardly anyone had heard of. It turns-out that names in the UK – just like anywhere in the world – developed in local areas and spread-out as populations moved about. It turned-out that Duddington has been cut-off from mainstream society for years – with my direct relatives not leaving until around 1905. Even today – the world has passed Duddington by. None of the broader changes of society have touched Duddington at all. The local population today are wealthy and conservative with a “C” and “c”. Although I do not share these views myself – I have to admit that these attitudes have preserved my family history until I became aware of it – and have been able to gather all the data together for anyone interested to benefit freely from it. Today, myself and Gee headed to Duddington around 6aam in the morning to get some early research in. We are staying in the Duddington area to carry-out some much needed genealogical investigations and we are making important headways already!

Email: My Interaction with ‘Andrew North’ of the Northants Records Office! (19.11.2023)

19/11/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

Interestingly, when I have visited the Archives in person (in the past) – or have had my staff do so on my behalf – I have never encountered this level of unprofessional behaviour involving the deliberate manifestation of disrespect and obstructive behaviour from a Civil Servant. You may rest assured that an official complaint will be lodged regarding your conduct in this manner.

Northants: King’s Cliffe Home Guard! (5.11.2023)

05/11/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

Even during the Churchill-generated hysteria of the 1950s – which saw the UK reactivate the ‘Civil Defence’ concept as part of the US anti-intellectual ‘Cold War’ propaganda – the Home Guard was never reconstructed. Churchill refused to trust a ‘Socialist’ entity that empowered the workers to put up a fight against the Soviet Union – a former ally of the UK! Much of this ‘Socialist’ history of the Home Guard is hidden behind a thin veneer of military officialdom, with such and such a ‘Battalion’, this ‘Company’, or that ‘Platoon’! The point is that Britain needed the working-class at its best during WWII and the Home Guard became a highly effective vehicle to realise this objective.

WWII: Did Duddington Possess a Home Guard Platoon? (19.10.2023)

19/10/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

I keep a website dedicated to my paternal (‘Wyles’) family name – centred on the Northants village of Duddington – where my family lived for at least the last 500 years (and perhaps longer). Although my last direct relative left around 1906 – and that I live in South Greater London – we have visited Duddington around ten-times for research field trips since March 14th, 2009, and have amassed a large dossier of historical data! This can all be accessed at the above link. I am still researching whether Duddington possessed a Home Guard Platoon during WWII – and as of yet – this puzzle has NOT been solved!

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