A county of spires and squires located in the East Midlands region of England, Northamptonshire or Northants, is a landlocked county bordering Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, Lincolnshire, and Cambridgeshire. Taking its name form the town of Northampton, the county has a population of over 600,000 and an area of some 2,364 square kilometres. The county town as you would expect is Northampton itself, and it has several largish towns namely Kettering, Daventry, Wellingborough, Corby and Rushden, to name but a few. Kettering is a market town dating back to Roman times when it was taken from a tribe called the Belgics. Daventry is another market town with Anglo-Saxon roots, it now has a population of over 20,000. Wellingborough another market town received its charter from King John, and is surrounded by five wells.
March 15, 2011
October 27, 2010
Lincolnshire Attractions
The 2nd largest county in England, Lincolnshire is perhaps also one of the least well known and least visited, though it has an attractive city in Lincoln, and there is plenty to see and do in the county, so today we will feature just 5 of its major attractions.
Belton House – Grantham, Lincolnshire: 17th century country house, built for Sir John Brownlow. Apart from the house, which is magnificent, the estate has beautiful gardens and extensive parkland.
Tattershall Castle – Tattershall, Lincolnshire: Medieval brick built castle built by Ralph Cromwell.
Woolsthorpe Manor – Nr Grantham, Lincolnshire: 17th century manor house, and former home of scientist Sir Isaac Newton.
Grantham House – Grantham, Lincolnshire: Handsome townhouse in the Castlegate area of Grantham.
Gunby Hall – Gunby, Lincolnshire: 18th century, red brick house with Victorian walled garden, beautiful when the weather is fine.
If you would visit just one town in the county, then you would probably pick Lincoln, the county town, here you can visit the stunning Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln Castle, or any number of other interesting places.
There also plenty of sports and entertainment facilities in the county, one of the best known is Market Rasen racecourse which holds National Hunt meetings throughout the year.
October 26, 2010
Boston Lincolnshire
Formerly a significant port for the county of Lincolnshire, Boston gave its name to the famous city in Massachusetts, as it was the starting point for a group of pilgrims following in the wake of the Pilgrim Fathers on the Mayflower. The town’s renowned church of St Botolph was built by the town’s rich merchants during the 14th and 15th centuries, and is one of the landmarks of Lincolnshire, earning itself the nickname the “Boston Stump”. Also worth a look in Boston are the St Mary’s Guildhall, Fydell House (18th century), and the five sailed mill, Maud Foster Windmill, named in honour of a wealthy local landowner from Elizabethan times.
Sleaford Lincolnshire
A market town located in the county of Lincolnshire, Sleaford owes much of its prosperity to its excellent rail and road communications. Well known for its cathedral like St Denys church, which is well worth a visit if you are in the town, Sleaford is also close to a couple of National Trust properties, Tattershall Castle and Belton House. If the weather is kind, you could play a round of golf at the delightful Sleaford Golf Club, located in Willoughby Road. Sleaford is located to the north-east of Grantham.
Grantham Lincolnshire
Once acting as a staging point between London and Lincoln, the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire is an ancient and historical town, perhaps best known for its St Wulfrum’s church, with its 281 foot spire. One of its best known buildings is the Angel Inn, dating from the 14th century, and said to be the place where Richard III signed the Duke of Buckingham’s death warrant in 1483. Grantham Museum is worth a visit, and contains some interesting exhibits relating to Sir Isaac Newton who was born nearby and attended Grantham’s King’s Grammar School. When the weather is nice, you could take a walk along the charming Grantham Canal, which opened in 1797.
Skegness Lincolnshire
One of the east coast of England’s most popular seaside resorts, Skegness in Lincolnshire was for many centuries just a small fishing village. The arrival of the railway in 1863, linking it to the thriving industrial towns of the English Midlands, transformed Skegness into a bustling holiday resort, attracting thousands of summer time visitors. The fine beach and bathing facilities meant that it continues to be popular right up to the present day. Fine weather is of course an advantage when visiting Skegness, as England’s east coast is notoriously unreliable when it comes to the climate, with wind and rain coming off the North Sea, on a fine day there can be few finer places to be. Even nature lovers can enjoy a trip to Skegness, as at the nearby Gibraltar Point, there is a bird observatory and nature reserve. Skegness Map.