The Limes

'The Limes' in 1949

The land on which this Victorian brick house stands was owned by a charity, which used the income for the benefit of the poor of Wellingborough. The charity sold the land to the Rector of East Farndon, Rev. A.W. Wilson, in 1887. He built the house, with the intention of using it for the benefit of the village. It was described as 'The Institute' and contained a library and facilities for the people of the village.

After Rev. Wilson's death in 1894, the house was sold to Mr Barwell Ewins of Marston Trussell Hall and he rented it out as a private house. Its 'institute' function ceased. Then in 1912, Mr Barwell Ewins leased the house, now known as 'The Mount', to the Guardians of the Poor for the Union of Market Harborough. The Guardians had been established as the means of implementing the Poor Law Act of 1834, through a 'Union' of parishes. The Union workhouse was in Market Harborough, but by this time, it was not felt appropriate that children should be in the workhouse, so the Union's Guardians made The Mount into the 'Cottage Home' for children. In 1930, the Unions were abolished and County Councils took over responsibility for the workhouse and the Cottage Home.

Then in 1953, Northamptonshire County Council ended the house's period as a children's home and sold it to a private buyer. It has remained a private house since then and the name has been changed to 'The Limes'.