Difference between revisions of "Northamptonshire"
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The county town is Northampton, located in the centre of the county with excellent access to London and Birmingham by both road and rail. The town formerly boasted a huge Norman castle (on the site of the current railway station) and an impressive Norman cathedral (burnt down in the The Great Fire of Northampton, 1675). Northampton has the largest medieaval open air market place in Europe. Oliver Cromwell stopped at a large, sand coloured building in the centre of the town on his way to the battle of Naseby. The River Nene runs through the town, which is navigable all the way to the Wash in Lincolnshire. | The county town is Northampton, located in the centre of the county with excellent access to London and Birmingham by both road and rail. The town formerly boasted a huge Norman castle (on the site of the current railway station) and an impressive Norman cathedral (burnt down in the The Great Fire of Northampton, 1675). Northampton has the largest medieaval open air market place in Europe. Oliver Cromwell stopped at a large, sand coloured building in the centre of the town on his way to the battle of Naseby. The River Nene runs through the town, which is navigable all the way to the Wash in Lincolnshire. | ||
| − | '''Links with the United States''' | + | '''Links with the United States'''<br/> |
Lawrence Washington, an ancestor of the first US president (George Washington), was mayor of the town several times in the late 1500s. The Washington family home was at Sulgrave Manor, in the south of the county. Sulgrave Manor is now jointly owned by the UK and US governments and is preserved as a monument to the Washington family. | Lawrence Washington, an ancestor of the first US president (George Washington), was mayor of the town several times in the late 1500s. The Washington family home was at Sulgrave Manor, in the south of the county. Sulgrave Manor is now jointly owned by the UK and US governments and is preserved as a monument to the Washington family. | ||
Revision as of 09:17, April 19, 2007
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a centrally located county of England. Famous for its Shire horses, shoe manufacturing, beer, many ancient churches and numerous landed gentry, the county's nickname is "Rose of the Shires". Its traditional symbol is a red rose with a white rose at its centre - a symbol of the Lancastrian/Tudor wars ("The War of the Roses").
Northampton
The county town is Northampton, located in the centre of the county with excellent access to London and Birmingham by both road and rail. The town formerly boasted a huge Norman castle (on the site of the current railway station) and an impressive Norman cathedral (burnt down in the The Great Fire of Northampton, 1675). Northampton has the largest medieaval open air market place in Europe. Oliver Cromwell stopped at a large, sand coloured building in the centre of the town on his way to the battle of Naseby. The River Nene runs through the town, which is navigable all the way to the Wash in Lincolnshire.
Links with the United States
Lawrence Washington, an ancestor of the first US president (George Washington), was mayor of the town several times in the late 1500s. The Washington family home was at Sulgrave Manor, in the south of the county. Sulgrave Manor is now jointly owned by the UK and US governments and is preserved as a monument to the Washington family.
The town of Northampton, MA is named after the town of Northampton, Northamptonshire, England.
Sports Teams
Northampton Town Football Club - "The Cobblers" (after Northampton's traditional manufacturing trade of shoemaking).
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club - "The Steelbacks" (after the nickname for the Northamptonshire Regiment)
Northampton Rugby Union Football Club - "The Saints" (after the location of the club's ground in St James' End, Northampton, built upon the grounds of the mediaeval St James' Priory).
Churches
St Sepulchres - one of three remaining "round" churches in England, and the best example. Built approx. 1100.
St Peters - a fine example of an Anglo-Saxon church, once situated outside the castle walls (now near the railway station).
St Giles - another fine Anglo-Saxon church in the centre of the town.
All Hallows/All Saints - built upon the remains of the Norman cathedral, this is a fine neo-classical market town church, built about 1677.
