Silverstone is known Worldwide for its Racing Circuit , however before 1940 the area now occupied by the circuit was just agricultural land. During WWII an aerodrome was built to house the 17th Operational Training Unit of the RAF, which trained Wellington Bomber crews, and the immediate aftermath of the war saw the birth of the current racing circuit

(or as it’s universally known amongst locals ‘ The Track ’).

 

The settlement of Silson (its historic name) was recorded in the Domesday book , and in the early Middle Ages was known for its busy Royal hunting lodge. The village was sustained almost entirely on farming and forestry , and indeed until relatively recently there were several woodyards in and around the village providing employment. Today the village has a population of around 2,000 (which is multiplied about 20 times during the weekend of the F1 GP! ), split around 50:50 between older homes and newer housing developments.

 

Many people expect Silverstone to be much larger than it actually is. The whole village lies to the North of the circuit, and is actually smaller than the area bounded by the F1 racing circuit. The village contains one pub , one social club, one village shop, a post office and a butcher. We do know how to support events however, and when demand dictates the need, many fast food outlets, temporary bars, campsites etc spring up at the circuit and in the village and surrounding fields. Roofed accommodation is at a premium, however, but you can be sure you’ve chosen the best if you stay at Silverstone Bed & Breakfast.

 

The Chantry Coach House is part of a collection of buildings that provided a 'Chantry' for the Abbey that used to be located beside Abbey curve at the racing circuit. The Chantry was where the choir would have met and practiced, and the stable from which our property was converted was where the carriages and horses were stabled. The house has no determinate age except that the oldest part is probably around 300 years old, the newest 7 years old, and that the major current reconstruction took place in the late 1970s.

 

Pete & Elaine Dyer, your hosts have lived at The Chantry Coach House for 15 years, having moved here with our 3 children at the time. As the children grew up and moved on, Silverstone Bed & Breakfast became the main household activity. The current family consists of Pete, Elaine, 5 bantam chickens, 6 laying chickens, a Norwegian Forest Cat called Vienna, a large number of goldfish in the garden pond, and a lovely well stocked garden that you're invited to enjoy no matter what the season.