Furtho

Furtho is an abandoned medieval settlement located east of Potterspury and west of Cosgrove, roughly 2 miles northwest of Stony Stratford. The Church of St Bartholomew, built in the 12th and 14th centuries and rebuilt in 1620, stands as the main surviving structure at this location.

The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded three estates in Furtho held by Robert, Count of Mortain, with the largest manor covering two hides. The settlement declined during the late 16th and early 17th centuries when the local family enclosed the land for agricultural restructuring.

The settlement was named after the Furtho family, who held influence over the area from medieval times through the early modern period. The place reflects how one family's decisions about land use shaped the community and its eventual fate.

The site is difficult to access and often requires permission to enter, as it sits on private land. Visitors should check ahead and wear appropriate clothing for walking across open fields.

The name comes from the Furtho family, but few visitors realize this location may have been occupied long before the Norman conquest. Ancient field patterns and earthworks beneath the surface suggest much earlier settlements in the same area.

Location: Potterspury

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/potterspuryparishcouncil/about-the-parish-council

GPS coordinates: 52.07980,-0.87389

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:40