In 1738, Wellingborough suffered a devastating fire which tore through part of the town, destroying homes and businesses. It was a truly devastating fire. The billowing smoke… Read more “The Fire Stopped by BOOZE”
Tag: history
The Forgotten History of Kettering Grammar School
The story of Kettering Grammar School, as it is usually told, starts in 1577. This is when Queen Elizabeth I granted the lands for the use of… Read more “The Forgotten History of Kettering Grammar School”
The Car Park in the Centre of England
Stand in the right spot in Northampton, somewhere between Marefair, Gregory Street, and Free School Street, and you’ll find… a car park. Nothing remarkable. A stretch of… Read more “The Car Park in the Centre of England”
Magna Carta and the First Barons’ War – Northamptonshire
The Magna Carta was signed and sealed Runnymede by King John in 1215. But the story didn’t begin in Surrey. It began here, in Northamptonshire. From Brackley… Read more “Magna Carta and the First Barons’ War – Northamptonshire”
Northamptonshire and the Anarchy – England’s First Civil War
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”
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
Jack Preston 