Northamptonshire
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{{Infobox England county
| name = Northamptonshire
| image =
| motto =
| map = [[Image:EnglandNorthamptonshire.png]]
| status = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial]] & [[Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|Non-metropolitan]] county
| origin =
| region = [[East Midlands]]
| arearank = [[List of Ceremonial counties of England by Area|Ranked 24th]]
| area_km2 = 2364
| adminarearank = [[List of Administrative shire counties of England by Area|Ranked 22nd]]
| adminhq = [[Northampton]]
| iso = GB-NTH
| ons = 34
| nuts3 = UKF23
| poprank = [[List of ceremonial counties of England by population|Ranked {{English cerem counties|RNK=Northamptonshire}}]]
| popestdate = {{English statistics year}}
| pop = {{English cerem counties|POP=Northamptonshire}}
| density_km2 = {{English cerem counties|DEN=Northamptonshire}}
| adminpoprank = [[List of non-metropolitan counties of England by population|Ranked {{English admin counties|RNK=Northamptonshire}}]]
| ethnicity = 95.1% White<br />2.0% S.Asian<br />1.2% Black British.
| council = [[Image:Northants arms.png|200px|Arms of Northamptonshire County Council]]<br />Northamptonshire County Council<br />http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/
| exec = {{English county control|CTY=Northamptonshire}}
| mps = * [[Peter Bone]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
* [[Tim Boswell]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
* [[Brian Binley]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
* [[Philip Hollobone]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
* [[Phil Hope]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]/[[Co-operative Party|(Co-op)]]
* [[Sally Keeble]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
| subdivmap = [[Image:NorthamptonshireNumbered.png]]
| subdivs = #[[South Northamptonshire]]
#[[Northampton]]
#[[Daventry (district)|Daventry]]
#[[Wellingborough (borough)|Wellingborough]]
#[[Kettering (borough)|Kettering]]
#[[Corby]]
#[[East Northamptonshire]]
}}
'''Northamptonshire''' (or, archaically, the '''County of Northampton'''; abbreviated '''Northants.''' or '''N/hants''') is a landlocked [[Counties of England|county]] in the [[England|English]] [[East Midlands]], with a population of 629,676 as at the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 census]]. It has boundaries with [[Warwickshire]], [[Leicestershire]], [[Rutland]], [[Cambridgeshire]] (including the city of [[Peterborough]]), [[Bedfordshire]], [[Buckinghamshire]] (including the borough of [[Milton Keynes (borough)|Milton Keynes]]), [[Oxfordshire]], and [[Lincolnshire]] (England's shortest county boundary at 19 metres). The county town is [[Northampton]].
Northamptonshire has often been called the county of "[[squire]]s and [[spire]]s" due to its wide variety of historic buildings and country houses. The county has also been described as "England's Pancreas", most notably by the popular presenter [[Alan Titchmarsh]] in his 2007 series [[The Nature of Britain]]. This is due to its shape and location within the UK, and because it is regularly overlooked, especially compared to neighbouring [[Warwickshire]], known as "The Heart of England".
Northamptonshire's [[county flower]] is the [[Primula veris|Cowslip]].
==Geography==
By the standards of the English [[Midlands]], Northamptonshire is an upland county. It includes the watershed between the [[River Severn|Severn]] and [[The Wash]]. Several important rivers have their sources in the north west of the county: these include the [[River Nene]] (to The Wash) and the "[[River Avon, Warwickshire|Warwickshire Avon]]" (to the Severn). In the 1820s it was boasted that "not a single brook, however insignificant, flows into it from any other district". The highest point in the county is nevertheless the modest [[Arbury Hill]] at 225 m (738 ft).
[[Northampton]] is the largest town in the county, with a population of 194,122. This is followed by [[Kettering]] (51,063), [[Corby]] (49,222), [[Wellingborough]] (46,959 ), [[Rushden]] (25,849) and [[Daventry]] (22,367). Most of the county's population is concentrated in a central north–south band which includes the four largest towns (corresponding to districts 2, 4, 5 & 6 on the map). The west (districts 1 & 3) and east (district 7) are predominantly rural with small towns and many villages. Northamptonshire is a long, thin county (more so with the [[Soke of Peterborough]]), running from south-west to north-east.
===Places===
These are the main settlements in Northamptonshire with a town charter, a population over 5,000, or otherwise notable. For a complete list of settlements see [[List of places in Northamptonshire]]''
* [[Brackley]], [[Braunston, Northamptonshire|Braunston]], [[Brixworth]]
* [[Corby]]
* [[Daventry]], [[Desborough]]
* [[Kettering]]
* [[Long Buckby]]
* [[Naseby]], [[Northampton]]
* [[Oundle]]
* [[Pitsford]]
* [[Raunds]], [[Rothwell, Northamptonshire|Rothwell]], [[Rushden]]
* [[Silverstone]]
* [[Towcester]], [[Thrapston]]
* [[Weedon Bec]], [[Wellingborough]]
===Peterborough===
The [[Soke of Peterborough]] was historically associated with Northamptonshire, as the county diocese is focused upon the cathedral there. However, it had its own [[county council]], and in 1965 was merged with the neighbouring small county of [[Huntingdonshire]].<ref>The Huntingdon and Peterborough Order 1964 (SI 1964/367), see [[Local Government Commission for England (1958–1967)]], ''Report and Proposals for the East Midlands General Review Area (Report No.3)'', [[31 July]] [[1961]] and ''Report and Proposals for the Lincolnshire and East Anglia General Review Area (Report No.9)'', [[7 May]] [[1965]]</ref> Under the [[Local Government Act 1972]] the city of [[Peterborough]] became a district of [[Cambridgeshire]].<ref>[http://www.wikilivres.info/wiki/index.php/The_English_Non-metropolitan_Districts_(Definition)_Order_1972 The English Non-Metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972] (SI 1972/2039) Part 5: County of Cambridgeshire</ref>
==History==
''Main article [[History of Northamptonshire]]''
Pre-Celtic and [[Celt]]ic peoples settled in the region, and there are some traces of [[Roman Empire|Roman]] settlements and roads. Most notably the [[Watling Street]] passed through the county, and there was an important Roman settlement called ''Lactodorum'' on the site of modern-day [[Towcester]]. There were other Roman settlements at the site of Northampton, and along the [[River Nene|Nene Valley]] near [[Raunds]].
After the Romans left, the area became part of the [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] kingdom of [[Mercia]], and Northampton functioned as an administrative centre. The area was overrun by the Danes ([[Viking]]s) in the 9th century and briefly became part of the [[Danelaw]], but was later re-claimed by the Saxons. Consequently, it is one of the few counties in England to have both Saxon and Danish town-names and settlements.
The county was first recorded in the [[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]] (1011), as ''Hamtunscire'': the ''scire'' ([[shire]]) of ''Hamtun'' (the homestead). The "North" was added to distinguish Northampton from the other important ''Hamtun'' further south: Southampton.
Later, [[Rockingham Castle]] was built for [[William the Conqueror]] and was used as a Royal fortress until [[Elizabethan era|Elizabethan]] times. The now-ruined [[Fotheringhay]] Castle was used to imprison [[Mary I of Scotland|Mary, Queen of Scots]] before her execution. In 1460, during the [[Wars of the Roses]], the [[Battle of Northampton (1460)|Battle of Northampton]] took place and King [[Henry VI of England|Henry VI]] was captured.
[[Image:Speed Northampton.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[John Speed]]'s 17th century map of Northamptonshire.]]
During the [[English Civil War]] Northamptonshire strongly supported the [[roundhead|Parliamentarian]] cause, and the [[Cavaliers (royalists)|Royalist]] forces suffered a crushing defeat at the [[Battle of Naseby]] in 1645 in the north of the county. King [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] was later imprisoned at [[Holdenby House]].
In the 18th and 19th centuries, parts of Northamptonshire became [[industrialisation|industrialized]]. Northampton and its surrounding areas gained a sizeable [[shoe]]making and [[leather]] industry and by the end of the 19th century it was almost definitively the boot and shoe making capital of the world. And in the north of the county a large [[ironstone]] [[quarry]]ing industry developed. In the 20th century, during the 1930s, the town of [[Corby]] was established as a major centre of the [[steel]] industry. Much of Northamptonshire nevertheless remains largely rural.
After the [[Second World War]] Northampton and Corby were designated as [[new town]]s. [[As of 2005]] the government is encouraging development in the [[South Midlands]] area, including Kettering and Corby.
[[George Washington]], the first President of the United States of America, was born into the Washington family who had migrated to America from Northamptonshire in the 1600s. [[George Washington's]] great-great-great-great-great grandfather Lawrence Washington was Mayor of [[Northampton]] on several occasions and it was he who bought [[Sulgrave Manor]] from [[Henry VIII]] in 1539. It was George Washington's great-grandfather, John Washington, who emigrated in 1656 from Northants to Virginia, where he married an American woman Anne Pope. Together they had four children, the second being Lawrence (the grandfather of George Washington) and with their children they began the American lineage of the Washingtons. Before George Washington's ancestors had settled in Northants, they lived in northern England. It was Lawrence Washington (born 1500) who moved from Warton, [[Lancashire]] to [[Sulgrave]], Northamptonshire. The earliest known ancestor of George Washington is [[William de Hertburn]], who had settled in the town of Washington in the North East in 1180 and, as was customery at the time, took the name of his estate (Washington).
==Politics==
===National representation===
Northamptonshire returns six [[member of Parliament|members of Parliament]]. Following the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 general election]], four MPs belong to the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], while the other two represent the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].
===Local government===
Like most English shire counties, Northamptonshire has a two-tier structure of [[local government in the United Kingdom|local government]]. The county has an elected [[county council]] based in [[Northampton]], and is also divided into seven [[Non-metropolitan district|districts]] each with their own district councils.
These districts are: [[Corby]], [[Daventry (district)|Daventry district]], [[East Northamptonshire]], [[Kettering (borough)|Kettering]], [[Northampton]], [[South Northamptonshire]], [[Wellingborough (borough)|Wellingborough]] (see map). The district council offices for East Northamptonshire are based in [[Thrapston]], and those for South Northamptonshire are based in [[Towcester]]. Northamptonshire also has a large number of [[List of civil parishes in Northamptonshire|civil parishes]].
From 1993 until 2005, Northamptonshire County Council, for which each of the 73 [[electoral division]]s in the county elects a single councillor, had been held by the Labour Party; previously it had been under [[no overall control]] since 1981. The councils of the rural districts – Daventry, East Northamptonshire, and South Northamptonshire – are strongly Conservative, whereas the political composition of the urban districts is more mixed. At the 2003 local elections, Labour lost control of Kettering, Northampton, and Wellingborough, retaining only Corby. Elections for the entire County Council are held every four years – the last were held on [[5 May]] [[2005]] when control of the County Council changed from the Labour Party to the Conservatives. The County Council uses a [[leader and cabinet]] executive system and has recently (from April 2006) abolished its [[area committee]]s.
Northampton itself is somewhat unusual in being the most populous urban district in England not to be administered as a [[unitary authority]] (even though several smaller districts are unitary). During the [[1990s UK local government reform|1990s local government reform]], Northampton Borough Council petitioned strongly for unitary status, which led to fractured relations with the County Council.
Northamptonshire is policed by [[Northamptonshire Police]], and is covered by [[Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service]].
Before 1974, the [[Soke of Peterborough]] was considered part of Northamptonshire for [[ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial purposes]], although it had had a separate county council since the late nineteenth century and separate [[Quarter Sessions]] courts before then. Now part of [[Cambridgeshire]], the city of [[Local government in Peterborough|Peterborough]] became a [[unitary authority]] in 1998, but it continues to form part of that county for ceremonial purposes.<ref>[http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1996/Uksi_19961878_en_1.htm The Cambridgeshire (City of Peterborough) (Structural, Boundary and Electoral Changes) Order 1996] (SI 1996/1878), see [[Local Government Commission for England (1992)]], ''Final Recommendations for the Future Local Government of Cambridgeshire'', October 1994 and ''Final Recommendations on the Future Local Government of Basildon & Thurrock, Blackburn & Blackpool, Broxtowe, Gedling & Rushcliffe, Dartford & Gravesham, Gillingham & Rochester upon Medway, Exeter, Gloucester, Halton & Warrington, Huntingdonshire & Peterborough, Northampton, Norwich, Spelthorne and the Wrekin'', December 1995</ref>
==Economy==
This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Northamptonshire at current basic prices [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf published] (pp.240–253) by ''Office for National Statistics'' with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year || Regional Gross Value Added<ref>Components may not sum to totals due to rounding</ref> || Agriculture<ref>includes hunting and forestry</ref> || Industry<ref>includes energy and construction</ref> || Services<ref>includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured</ref>
|-
| 1995 || '''6,139''' || 112 || 2,157 || 3,870
|-
| 2000 || '''9,743''' || 79 || 3,035 || 6,630
|-
| 2003 || '''10,901''' || 90 || 3,260 || 7,551
|}
Northamptonshire has some nationally important companies. Historically, it is home to footwear manufacturing companies. The [[Dr. Martens]] company in the UK is based in [[Wollaston, Northamptonshire|Wollaston]] near Wellingborough, where the boots used to be made. [[Weetabix]] is made at [[Burton Latimer]] near Kettering. [[Carlsberg]] is brewed in Northampton. Daventry has many distribution centres.
==Education==
Northamptonshire operates a complete comprehensive system with 30 state secondary schools and 4 independent schools. There are no selective schools.
Northamptonshire boasts an extensive [[Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Service|music and performing arts service]] that provides peripatetic music teaching to schools in the area. It also supports 15 local Saturday morning music and performing arts centres around the county as well as providing a range of county level music groups.
The only university in Northamptonshire is The [[University of Northampton]], a medium-sized University with 10,000 students and two Northampton-based campuses just 2.5 miles (4 km) apart. It offers hundreds of courses to meet all needs and interests from foundation and undergraduate level to postgraduate, professional and doctoral qualifications. Subjects include traditional arts, humanities and sciences subjects, as well as more modern subjects such as entrepreneurship, product design and advertising.
==Healthcare==
Northampton has several [[NHS]] branches.
On [[25 June]] [[2008]], [[Anglian Water]] found traces of [[Cryptosporidium]] in water supplies of Northamptonshire. The local reservoir, Pitsford, was investigated to find a rabbit which had strayed into it, causing the problem. About 250,000 residents were affected,<ref name="1cryptoBBC">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshire/7472619.stm|title=Sickness bug found in tap water|date=[[2008-06-25]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref>; by [[14 July]] [[2008]], 13 cases of cryptosporidiosis attributed to water in Northampton had been reported.<ref name="2cryptoBBC">{{cite news|title=BBC News|date=[[2008-07-14]]|work=10 o' clock news, [[BBC One]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref> Following the end of the investigation, Anglian Water lifted its boil notice for all affected areas on 4 July 2008.<ref name=AnglianWater>[http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/index.php?sectionid=51&parentid=50&contentid=1136 "Anglian Water"], Press Release</ref> According to Northampton's local newspaper, the Chronicle & Echo, "Anglian Water is expected to reveal compensation in the region of £25 per household for customers hit by the water crisis."<ref name=ChronicleEcho>[http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/25-each-compensation-for-water.4255069.jp "Chronicle & Echo"], News 4 July 2008</ref>
==Transport==
The gap in the hills at [[Watford Gap]] meant that many southeast to northwest routes passed through Northamptonshire. The Roman Road [[Watling Street]] (now part of the [[A5 road|A5]]) passed through here, as did later canals, railways and major roads.
===Roads===
Major roads such as the [[M1 motorway]] and the [[A14 road|A14]] provide Northamptonshire with valuable transport links, both north–south and east–west. The A43 joins the M1 to the M40, passing through the south of the county to the Junction west of Brackley. The former steelworks town of Corby is now home to large areas of [[warehouse|warehousing]] and [[distribution (business)|distribution]] companies.
===Rivers and Canals===
[[Image:Grand Union Canal at Braunston.jpg|right|thumb|256px|The Grand Union Canal at Braunston]]
''See also: [[:Category:Rivers of Northamptonshire|Rivers in Northamptonshire]]''
Two major canals – the [[Oxford Canal|Oxford]] and the [[Grand Union Canal|Grand Union]] – join in the county at [[Braunston, Northamptonshire|Braunston]]. Notable features include a flight of 17 [[canal lock|locks]] on the Grand Union at Rothersthorpe, the [[Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum|canal museum]] at [[Stoke Bruerne]], and a tunnel at [[Blisworth tunnel|Blisworth]] which, at 3076 yards (2813 m), is the third-longest navigable canal tunnel on the [[Canals of the United Kingdom|UK canal network]].
A branch of the Grand Union Canal connects to the [[River Nene]] in Northampton and has been upgraded to a "wide canal" in places and is known as the ''Nene Navigation''. It is famous for its guillotine locks.
For last five years Northamptonshire County Council is in partnership with WS Atkins, Europe's largest Engineering Consultants to manage and maintain all highways functions.
===Railways===
[[Image:WCML and M1.jpg|thumb|256px|The West Coast Main Line running alongside the [[M1 motorway]] near [[Daventry]]]]
Two trunk railway routes, the [[West Coast Main Line]] and the [[Midland Main Line]] traverse the county. At its peak, Northamptonshire had 75 railway stations. It now has only five, at [[Northampton railway station|Northampton]] and [[Long Buckby railway station|Long Buckby]] (on the WCML), [[Kettering railway station|Kettering]] and [[Wellingborough railway station|Wellingborough]] (on the Midland Main Line), along with [[King's Sutton]], which is a matter of yards from the boundary with Oxfordshire on the [[Chiltern Main Line|London-Banbury line]].
Corby is one of the largest towns in Britain without a railway station. A railway runs through the town (from Kettering to [[Oakham]] in [[Rutland]]), but is currently used only by freight traffic and occasional diverted passenger trains (which do not call). The line through Corby was once part of a main line to [[Nottingham]] via [[Melton Mowbray]] but the stretch between Melton and Nottingham was closed in 1968. In the 1980s, an experimental passenger shuttle service was tried between Corby and Kettering, but this proved unsuccessful. A bus link operated by [[East Midland Trains]] provides access to Corby from Kettering station. As of 2005, there are plans to build a new station in Corby – one providing direct access to [[St Pancras railway station|St Pancras]] in [[London]] and not just a branch line service to Kettering - but these are not yet off the ground.
Northamptonshire was hit hard by the [[Beeching Axe]] in the 1960s, with stations such as Towcester's being slowly left to rot. Find out more at [http://www.smjr.info] One of the most notable closures was that of the line connecting Northampton to [[Peterborough]] by way of Wellingborough, [[Thrapston]], and [[Oundle]]. Its closure left eastern Northamptonshire devoid of railways. Part of this route has been re-opened as the [[Nene Valley Railway]], with a small section of line, and the station at [[Yarwell]] junction being within Northamptonshire.
A section of one of the closed lines, the Northampton to [[Market Harborough]] line, is now the [[Northampton & Lamport Railway|Northampton & Lamport]] [[heritage railway]], while the route as a whole forms a part of the [[National Cycle Network]], as the [[Brampton Valley Way]].
As early as 1897 Northamptonshire had its own putative [[Channel Tunnel]] rail link with the creation of the [[Great Central Railway]], which was intended to connect to a tunnel under the [[English Channel]]. Although the complete project never came to fruition, the rail link through Northamptonshire was constructed, and had stations at [[Charwelton]], [[Woodford Halse]], [[Helmdon]], and [[Brackley]]. It became part of the London and North Eastern Railway in 1923 (and of British Railways in 1948) before its closure in 1966.
Before [[nationalization]] of the railways in 1948 and the creation of [[British Railways]]), Northamptonshire was home to three of the "Big Four" railway companies; the [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway]], [[London and North Eastern Railway]] and [[Great Western Railway]]. Only the [[Southern Railway (UK)|Southern Railway]] was not represented. Post nationalisation, it is served by [[Virgin]], [[London Midland]], [[Chiltern Railways]] and [[East Midland Trains]]. So from having 75 stations in 1948 and three operators it has 5 stations with four operators.
== Buses ==
Most buses are operated by [[Stagecoach]] or [[First group]] Some town area routes have been named like the Corby Star or Connect Wellingborough. Unusually the networks have a letter of the route like the W1, W2, W3, W4, W5 and so on.
== Media ==
The two main newspapers in the county are the [[Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph]] and the [[Northampton Chronicle & Echo]].
Northamptonshire has a local BBC radio station, ''[[BBC Radio Northampton]]'', which broadcasts on two [[FM radio|FM]] frequencies – 104.2 MHz for the south and west of the county (including [[Northampton]] and surrounding area) and 103.6 MHz for the north of the county (including [[Kettering]] and [[Corby]]). There are three commercial radio stations. ''[[Northants 96]]'' (96.6 MHz FM) is part of [[Global radio group]], whilst [[AM broadcasting|AM]] station ''[http://www.mygoldmusic.com Gold]'' (1557 kHz) also forms part of a national network. The former ''Kettering and Corby Broadcasting Company (KCBC)'' station originally broadcast on 1530 (later 1584) kHz AM before eventually moving to 107.4 MHz FM. Its studios and FM frequency are still in use following a merger with Wellingborough-based ''Connect FM'' which now broadcasts on 97.2 and 107.4 MHz.
National [[Digital audio broadcasting|digital radio]] is also available in Northamptonshire, though coverage is limited. As of 2008 a multiplex for local DAB stations will go on air by end of October
In regional radio and television terms, the county is not usually considered as part of the East Midlands; unusually, it is associated with [[East Anglia]], being part of the [[BBC East]] region and the [[Anglia Television]] region of [[ITV]], the latter having an office adjacent to BBC Radio Northampton in Abington Street, Northampton. These services are broadcast from the [[Sandy Heath]] transmitter.
== Sport ==
;Football
Northamptonshire is home to a number of [[football (soccer)|football]] teams, the most prominent being the [[Football League One|League One]] side [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]]. Other football teams include [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]] and [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]], who are in the [[Conference National]]. [[Wellingborough Town F.C.|Wellingborough Town]] claims to be the sixth oldest club in the country.
;Rugby Union
Northamptonshire is more successful in [[rugby union]], though its premier team, [[Northampton Saints]], was relegated from the [[Guinness Premiership]] (the highest league) at the end of the 2006/07 season. though they were promoted back in the following season.
;Cricket
[[Northamptonshire County Cricket Club]] is presently in Division Two of the [[County Championship]]. Northamptonshire Cricket Club has recently signed overseas professionals such as [[Sourav Ganguly]].
;Motor Sport
[[Silverstone]] has a major [[motor racing]] circuit, notably used for the [[Grand Prix motor racing|British Grand Prix]]. There is also a dedicated radio station for the circuit which broadcasts on 87.7 FM or 1602 MW when evets are taking place. [[Rockingham Motor Speedway|Rockingham Speedway]] near [[Corby]] is the largest stadium in the UK with 130,000 seats. It is a US-style elliptical racing circuit (the largest of its kind outside of the US), and is used extensively for all kinds of [[Motor racing|Motor Racing]] events.
== Music ==
Northampton has had a varied musical history. Its most famous export is Bauhaus, a revered Goth Rock band. This has ensured a loyal Goth following that congregate around the Racehorse pub.
More recently music has flourished around the now closed - but much revered - Soundhaus and Labour Club. The Departure were the most famous recent band. However, the Retro Spankees, Daniel Johnstone-esque Winston Echo, Columbus and Crewsoe, Kowalski and Magic School Bus (featuring eccentric drummer Rory Hillam) have prospered here.
== Places of interest ==
{{seealso|Category:Visitor attractions in Northamptonshire}}
<div style="float:right;">
{{EngPlacesKey}}
</div>
{|cellpadding=0 cellspacing=4 border=0
||
* [[78 Derngate]] [[Image:Museum icon (red).png]]
* [[Althorp]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Barnwell Country Park]] [[Image:CP icon.png]]
* [[Barnwell Manor]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Billing Aquadrome]]
* [[Borough Hill]] Daventry ([[Iron Age]] hill fort) [[Image:UKAL icon.png]]
* [[Boughton House]] (home of the [[Duke of Buccleuch|Dukes of Buccleuch]]) [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Blisworth tunnel]]
* [[Brackley]]
* [[Brampton Valley Way]] (linear park on a disused [[Rail transport|railway]] line) [[Image:UKAL icon.png]]
* [[Brixworth Country Park]] [[Image:CP icon.png]]
* [[Burghley House]] (in the Soke of Peterborough, so formerly in Northants), [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Canons Ashby House]] [[Image:NTE icon.png]]
* [[Castle Ashby]] (home of the [[Marquess of Northampton]]),[[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Coton Manor Garden]]
* [[Cottesbrooke Hall]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Daventry Country Park]] [[Image:CP icon.png]]
* [[Deene Park]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Delapré Abbey]]
* [[Easton Neston]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Elton Hall]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Fermyn Woods Country Park]] [[Image:CP icon.png]]
* [[Fotheringhay|Fotheringhay Castle & Church]]
* [[Geddington]]'s [[Eleanor cross]]
* [[Holdenby House]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Irchester Country Park]] [[Image:CP icon.png]]
* [[Jurassic Way]] ([[long-distance footpath]])
* [[Kelmarsh Hall]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Kirby Hall]] [[Image:EH icon.png]]
||
* [[Knuston Hall]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Lamport Hall]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Lyveden New Bield]] [[Image:NTE icon.png]]
* [[Pitsford Reservoir]]
* [[Prebendal Manor House, Nassington]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Naseby Field]]
* [[Northampton Cathedral]]
* [[Northampton & Lamport Railway]] [[Image:HR icon.png]]
* [[Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust|Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway]] [[Image:HR icon.png]]
* Roadmender, Northampton [http://www.newroadmender.com/]
* [[Rockingham Castle]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Rockingham Forest]] [[Image:FC icon.png]]
* [[Rockingham Motor Speedway]]
* [[Rushden Hall]]
* [[Rushden Station Railway Museum]]
* [[Rushton Triangular Lodge]] [[Image:EH icon.png]]
* [[Salcey Forest]] [[Image:FC icon.png]]
* [[Silverstone Circuit]]
* [[Southwick Hall]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Stanwick Lakes]] [[Image:CP icon.png]]
* [[Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum]] [[Image:Museum icon (red).png]]
* [[Sulgrave Manor]] [[Image:HH icon.png]]
* [[Summer Leys nature reserve]]
* [[Syresham]]
* [[Sywell Country Park]] [[Image:CP icon.png]]
* [[Watford Locks]]
* [[Whittlewood Forest]] [[Image:FC icon.png]]
* [[Wicksteed Park]]
|}
== Annual events ==
* [[Grand Prix motor racing|British Grand Prix]] at [[Silverstone]]
* [[Burghley Horse Trials]]
* [[Crick Boat Show]]
* [[Hollowell|Hollowell Steam Rally]]
* [[Northampton Balloon Festival]]
* [[Rothwell, Northamptonshire|Rothwell]] Fair
* [[Rushden Cavalcade]]
* [[St Crispin Street Fair]]
== Colleges ==
* [[Fletton House]]
* [[Grendon Hall]]
* [[Knuston Hall]]
* [[Moulton College]]
* [[Tresham College]]
* [[The Northampton College]]
* [[Northampton New College]]
* [[Huxlow Science College]]
* [[Wellingborough College]]
== Universities ==
* The [[University of Northampton]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
* [[:Category:People from Northamptonshire|People from Northamptonshire]]
* [[History of Northamptonshire]]
==External links==
* [http://www.uk-genealogy.org.uk/gazetteer/england/Northamptonshire/ 1894/5 description]
* [http://www.northants.com/ Northants Forum]
* [http://www.theatrenights.com/index.php?list=Events&location=4 Local Theatre in Northamptonshire]
* [http://www.northamptonshire-history.org.uk/ Northamptonshire History Website]
* [http://www.explorenorthamptonshire.co.uk/ Northamptonshire Tourism Website]
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