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This article is about Northampton, England. For other places, see Northampton (disambiguation)
| Borough of Northampton | |
|---|---|
Shown within Northamptonshire | |
| Twin towns: | Marburg, Germany Poitiers, France |
| Geography | |
| Status: | Borough |
| Region: | East Midlands |
| Admin. County: | Northamptonshire |
| Area: - Total | Ranked 262nd 80.76 km² |
| Admin. HQ: | Northampton |
| ONS code: | 34UF |
| Demographics | |
| Population: - Total (2002 est.) - Density | Ranked 66th 194,122 2,404 / km² |
| Ethnicity: | 91.6% White 3.3% S.Asian 2.4% Afro-Carib. |
| Politics | |
| Northampton Borough Council http://www.northampton.gov.uk/ | |
| Leadership: | Leader & Cabinet |
| Executive: | Conservative |
| MPs: | Sally Keeble, Tony Clarke |
Northampton is a large market town and a local government district in central England upon the River Nene, and the county town of Northamptonshire.
Traditionally Northampton has been a major centre of shoemaking and other leather related industries. Although shoemaking is still important, it has been overtaken as the main industry by engineering (bearings, vehicle components), distribution and finance.
Northampton the most populous district in England not to be a unitary authority It is also one of the most populous urban districts not to be a London Borough, metropolitan borough or city; on this basis the council claims that it is the largest town in England. Bolton, Medway and Milton Keynes could also claim this title, but these are often not seen as single towns.
The town is noted for its many parks, which include Abington Park, The Racecourse (home to the annual Balloon Festival), Delapre Park, Bradlaugh Fields, Becket's Park (named after Thomas Becket, who also lends his name to the nearby Becket's Well) and Iron Age hill fort Hunsbury Hill. Leisure park Billing Aquadrome is situated on the town's outskirts, which incorporates a caravan site, marina and funfair.
As well as three modern indoor shopping centres, the town also claims to have Britain's largest market square, which dates back to 1235. The square and surrounding shopping streets host the annual St Crispin Street Fair, held during the October half-term school holiday since 1993.
The Derngate and Royal theatres are situated next door to each other in Guildhall Road, opposite Northampton Museum and Art Gallery. There is also a smaller museum in a former mansion within Abington Park. Three cinemas are also located in the town: Vue at Sol Central, UGC at Sixfields and the Forum Cinema at Lings Forum.
The 127.45 metre tall Express Lift Tower is visible from most of the town, and was dubbed the "Northampton Lighthouse" by broadcaster Terry Wogan.
Scientist Francis Crick was born in the town in 1916, who along with James D. Watson discovered the structure of DNA, and went on to win a Nobel Prize. Nearby to Northampton is Althorp, the country estate where Diana, Princess of Wales is buried. In 1997, her funeral procession passed through the town. Journalist and broadcaster Andrew Collins originally hails from Northampton and wrote about growing up in the town in his memoir Where Did It All Go Right?.
Northampton is situated on junctions 15, 15a and 16 of the M1 motorway. The A45 and A43 also go through the town. By rail it is served by the Northampton Loop of the West Coast Main Line, and has regular services to London and Birmingham provided by Silverlink Trains. Sywell Aerodrome is the nearest airfield.
Three newspapers are published in the town: the Chronicle and Echo, Mercury and Northants on Sunday. Radio stations BBC Radio Northampton and Northants 96 are based in the town, both broadcast to the wider county. Regional television news is provided by BBC Look East and Premiership rugby union club The Saints at Franklin's Gardens
The Nene Whitewater Centre also provides an artificial whitewater course for canoes, kayaks and rafts.
Remains have been found in the Northampton area dating back to Roman times. It is believed that farming settlement began in the Northampton area in around the 7th century. By the 8th century it had became an administrative centre for the kingdom of Mercia.
The town became significant in the 11th century, when the Normans built town walls and a large castle in Northampton. In 1460, during the Wars of the Roses King Henry VI was captured in Northampton by Yorkists.
Northampton supported the parliamentarians during the English Civil War. For this reason the town walls and castle were later torn down on the orders of King Charles II as punishment. The railway station in Northampton stands on the site of the former castle, and for this reason is known as "Northampton Castle Station".
The town was destroyed by fire in 1675, and was re-built as a spacious and well-planned town. In the 18th century Northampton became a major centre of footwear and leather manufacture. The prosperity of the town was greatly aided by demand for footwear caused by the many wars that took place in the 18th century.
Northampton's growth was accelerated in the 19th century first by the Grand Union Canal which reached the town in 1815 and later the coming of the Railways in the 1830s. A loop of the major West Coast Main Line was built into Northampton in the 1870s.
In the 19th century Northampton acquired a reputation for political radicalism when the radical non-conformist Charles Bradlaugh was elected on several occasions as the town's MP. In the 1960s the town was designated a new town and the population grew rapidly due to new housing developments. The town also became linked to the M1 motorway.
The Northampton Development Corporation produced a single which was released nationally by EMI entitled 60 Miles by Road or Rail by Linda Jardim (who was also a vocalist on Buggles's Video Killed the Radio Star) in an attempt to generate publicity for the growing town. 60 miles is the approximate distance from the town to London, which many people commute to. The B-side was Energy in Northampton, about aliens choosing Northampton as a landing site.
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