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Oundle in Northampton County England History and GeographyOUNDLE, a market town and parish, in the hundred of POLEBROOKE, county of NORTHAMPTON, 30 miles (N.E.) from Northampton, and 77 (N. by W.) from London, containing, with the chapelry of Ashton, and the hamlets of Biggin, Churchfield, and Elmington, 2279 inhabitants. A monastery was established here before the year 711, when Wilfrid, Archbishop of York, died in it: by some it is thought to have been founded by that primate, whilst others consider it to have been a cell to the abbey of Peterborough, and part of its possessions. The town is situated on a gentle declivity on the northern bank of the river Nene, by which it is nearly surrounded, and over which are two bridges, leading respectively to the Thrapston and Peterborough roads: North bridge is remarkable for its length and the number of its arches, which support an elevated causeway. The streets are well paved and lighted, and, in consequence of recent improvements made under the provisions of a local act of parliament, the general appearance of the town has been eutirely modernised: two or three houses yet remain, which were built with the stones of Fotheringhay, castle. Several of the inhabitants are employed in making bobbin-lace. The market is on Thursday; and fairs are held on February 25th, Whit-Monday, and August 21st, for horses, cattle, and sheep, and on October 12th, for cheese, cattle, &c.: a commodious market-house and shambles have been recently erected. Manorial courts leet and baron, and a court for the hundred, are held annually: a court is likewise held for the rectorial manor of Oundle, once in two or three years. The petty sessions for the division take place here once a fortnight. A court for the recovery of debts under 40s. was attached to the hundred court, but it has been disused for several years. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Northampton, and diocese of Peterborough, rated in the king's books at £13. 6. 8., and in the patronage of the Crown. The church, which is dedicated to St. Peter, is a spacious and very handsome cruciform structure, combining the different styles of English architecture, with a lofty tower, terminated at the angles by octagonal turrets, and surmounted by an hexagonal crocketed spire, erected in 1634: in the chancel are some rich stalls, good screen-work, and a portion of ancient stained glass. There are places of worship for Batists, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists. The free grammar school was founded, in 1556, by Sir William Laxton, a native of this town, and lord mayor of London in 1544, the amount of endowment is about £400 per annum, and the management is vested in the Master and Wardens of the Grocers' Company, who appoint the master, with a stipend of £40 per annum, for himself and usher, and a gratuity of £60: the school is open to boys of the town for free instruction. A school, for the education of thirty poor men's sons, was built and endowed, in 1620, by the Rev. Nicholas Latham, with £10 per annum, for a master to teach reading and writing: the master at present receives a salary of £20 per annum, with a house for his residence, and the writing-master about £16. A Blue-coat school is supported by voluntary contributions. An almshouse, founded and endowed by Sir William Laxton, for seven poor men, is also under the superintendence of the Grocers' Company. An hospital for sixteen poor women, who must each exceed the age of fifty years, with two nurses for the sick, and a weekly allowance to each inmate, was also founded by the Rev. N. Latham. There are two contingent exhibitions to the University of Cambridge, of £4 per annum each, for poor scholars of the parishes of Oundle, Glapthorne, Cotterstock, and Tansor. In the vicinity of this town are some chalybeate springs. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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