79 Northampton Road, Brixworth

In August 1825, John Howcutt (1801-1859), a groom, bought from his father Thomas (1776-1844) two plots of land on the west side of Northampton Road, immediately to the north of Spratton Road. The southern plot had an area of 1 rood 31 perches. The other land, adjacent to the north of the first plot, amounted to 1 rood 33 perches. The total purchase price was £180 and was financed by a mortgage loan of that amount from William Fisher Morgan of Northampton.

In July 1835, John sold the land to James Kightley for £360. The deeds record that by then he had built a house on part of the land, its occupier at the time of the sale being William Butlin. The inscription "JH 1826" is carved on a stone in the centre of the top of the front wall of 79 Northampton Road.

It is not known whether John ever lived in the house that he built. He was living in London when he got married in 1830 and by later that year had already moved to Brighton, where he remained at least until 1838. He got back to Brixworth in time for the 1841 census.