Today, Lilbourne is a small Northamptonshire village near the Warwickshire border. It is quiet, rural and not generally somewhere you would associate with civil wars. But around… Read more “The Rival “Anarchist” Castles of Lilbourne”
Tag: Local History
Historic Schools of Corby and Surrounding Villages
Brigstock Latham’s Church of England Primary School There’s evidence that a school has existed in Brigstock since at least the sixteenth century – the original building had… Read more “Historic Schools of Corby and Surrounding Villages”
The Schools of School Lane, Kettering
Street names often come from notable buildings, landmarks, or residents. So it will come as no surprise that Kettering’s School Lane was once home to two schools.… Read more “The Schools of School Lane, Kettering”
The Woman Behind Modern Libraries – Kate Edith Pierce of Kettering
Kate Edith Pierce of Kettering revolutionised libraries with open-access shelves and inter-library loans in Britain.
The Fire Stopped by BOOZE
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”
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”
