Long before “the” English Civil War of the 1640s, England had already torn itself apart in a number of other brutal internal conflicts. The first of these… Read more “Northamptonshire and the Anarchy – England’s First Civil War”
Category: Northants
How Northampton Caused the Norman Conquest
People tend to think the Norman Conquest began in 1066, on a battlefield. But the fuse was lit a decade earlier, and rather closer to home. It… Read more “How Northampton Caused the Norman Conquest”
Jury Trials – Made in Northamptonshire
The English justice system is built on timeless traditions: barristers in powdered wigs, robes stolen from Dracula’s laundry basket, and twelve exhausted people trying to get home… Read more “Jury Trials – Made in Northamptonshire”
When Medieval Monarchs Spent Christmas in Northamptonshire
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”
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”
Bonfire Night – Sparked in Northamptonshire ?
The Origin of Bonfire Night
The Kettering Conjuror – and Northamptonshire’s Secret Bibles
Long before Voldemort or Sauron, there was Thomas Fysh of Kettering, dragged before the dreaded Star Chamber for possessing what sounds like a wizard’s notebook, which the… 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”
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.
