1164, Northampton Castle During the Autumn and Winter of 1164, Northampton stood at the centre of royal drama. King Henry II was at Northampton Castle for one… Read more “When Medieval Monarchs Spent Christmas in Northamptonshire”
Author: Jack Preston
The World’s First Gas Cooked Dinner Party
In the early 1830s, while most households still relied on smoky coal ranges and temperamental open fires, something remarkable was happening in Northampton. Inside a lecture room… Read more “The World’s First Gas Cooked Dinner Party”
Kettering’s Shoemaking Revolution
Kettering in the early Nineteenth Century was a centre of the shoemaking trade; not yet with the great factories of later years, but a growing trade that… Read more “Kettering’s Shoemaking Revolution”
The Demon Doll of Finedon
As the nights grow longer and the mists settle over Northamptonshire’s lanes, tales begin to stir … tales of strange happenings and things best left behind locked… Read more “The Demon Doll of Finedon”
Bonfire Night – Sparked in Northamptonshire ?
The Origin of Bonfire Night
The Kettering Conjuror – and Northamptonshire’s Secret Bibles
Long before Harry Potter (or even Harry Potter House) there was Thomas Fysh of Kettering, dragged before the dreaded Star Chamber for possessing what sounds like a… Read more “The Kettering Conjuror – and Northamptonshire’s Secret Bibles”
The Northamptonshire Floods of 1795
When the County Went Under In February 1795, Northamptonshire found itself at the mercy of one of the most dramatic natural disasters in its history. The Great… Read more “The Northamptonshire Floods of 1795”
Triangular Lodge – An Act of Rebellion
Wander just outside Rushton, and you’ll find yourself facing one of the strangest, most intriguing buildings in England. It isn’t grand like a country house, nor fortified… Read more “Triangular Lodge – An Act of Rebellion”
Northamptonshire’s Saints
This evening (19 September) will see our local rugby team, Northampton Saints, face off against Saracens from North London. But let’s take a look at some of… Read more “Northamptonshire’s Saints”
Kettering’s Wool Industry
Kettering’s worsted wool industry flourished from local resources in the 17th and 18th centuries, becoming a vital part of community life, before declining in the 19th century due to industrialization and global market changes.
Jack Preston 