Land-locked Northamptonshire, known as the 'rose of the shires', is bordered by eight counties. The areas rich pasturelands were given over to the wool trade in the 13th century but by the 1500s the production of leather came to prominence as the county's key economy. Then by the 17th-c shoe manufacture became Northamptonshire's main industry. The county is blessed with many beautiful unspoilt villages containing many old stone and thatched cottages.
It was here in these fields on the 14th June 1645 that the battle of Naseby took place. A key battle in the English Civil War, between Oliver Cromwell (Parliamentarians) and King Charles I (Royalists). The outcome of this battle was that King Charles I was defeated by Cromwell's Roundheads, in the first ever battle of the 'New Model Army'. This heralded the beginning of the end of the absolute Monarchy rule in the British Isles and eventually led to parliamentary democracy in Britain.
Kimbolton Village © Travel About Britain
Towns and Villages in Northamptonshire
Corby, Daventry, Higham Ferrers, Kettering, Kimbolton, Nassington, Northampton, Oundle, Stoke Bruerne, Towcester, Wansford, Wellingborough, Yarwell
Attractions in Northamptonshire
Althorp | Billing Aquadrome | Broughton House | Canons Ashby | Coton Manor Gardens | Deene Park | East Carlton Country Park | Fineshade Wood | Holdenby House | Hunsbury Hill Industrial Museum | Kirkby Hall | Lamport Hall | Rockingham Castle | Rushton Triangular Lodge | Saxon Churches | Sulgrave Manor | Waterways Museum | Wicksteed Park
The Midlands
