to 10 miles distant. Northampton lies 19 miles east. Because of this geographic position, and the 50 mph speed limit in either direction, the residents of Byfield look to both Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire for fulfillment of many of their service needs. This is especially true of areas such as healthcare, shopping and major items of furniture, white goods, meals out, gym membership and the like. Governance Byfield has had a Parish Council continuously since 1894, and this continuity has meant that the parish is actively managed for the good of its residents. Demography Byfield has a population of around 1,200-1,250 (1,252 in the 2001 census), increasing to 1,277 at the 2011 census. 1,032 electors (2007 Electoral Register) plus children. The Parish still has a high level of agriculture, as it has some 10 or so working farms, although like all modern farming they employ very few people. The other areas of employment are the usual modern mix of commuting, self-employed and people who have locally based jobs, often part-time. Recreation There are some 30 different clubs and organisations active in Byfield such as karate, over 60s club and the men's breakfast club. Byfield has a large recreation ground, The Brightwell, which has bowls, cricket, football and tennis clubs as well as a children's playground and other recreational space. The village hall is the venue for a number of weekly events as well as one-off theatres, shows, exhibitions, quiz evenings, dances, weddings, parties etc. Byfield Village Club which was formerly known as Byfield Conservative Club has a membership of over 200 and is the venue for live music, social events and parties. There are active darts and skittles teams as well as a full-size snooker table in the upstairs games room. The Village Club is housed in a former school house; the building itself being several hundred years old. The club went out of business in early 2017 and the building is up for sale. An active Scout Group exists in the village which was first founded in 1911. Today it provides activities for approximately 60 young people aged 6–14. In the 1950s and 1960s, Byfield's Brian, Bob, Cecil, and Bruce Laurie were well-known stock-car drivers, at Northamptonshire's Brafield Stadium and around England's stock car tracks. References External links Information on Byfield, with weekly news etc. Villages in Northamptonshire West Northamptonshire District Civil parishes in Northamptonshire