During the 11th century the Normans built town walls and a large market grew under the stewardship of the Norman Earl Senlis. Later Northampton grew rapidly at the time of the Normans with the population reaching 1500 residents.
The town underwent rapid growth when new houses were built in housing estates at the beginning of the 20th century and by 1961 the population had increased to 100,000. Northampton Development Corporation was set up to increase the size of the town, targeting a population of 230,000 which was estimated to happen in 1981. But somehow the actual growth was much slower than they had planned for perhaps because of the emergence of its neighbor the new town of Milton Keynes.
Northampton is famous for Rugby, Cricket and Football. The league football club Northampton Town, also called as the Cobblers due to the town's long association with shoe making. Northampton Town plays at their new stadium at Sixfields Stadium on the edge of the town. This stadium has both an athletics track as well as a football ground which are both adjacent to each other. Northampton is today better known for its Rugby, Northampton's team is known as the ?Saints.? Probably their greatest moment was when they won the Heineken Cup in 2000 at Twickenham Stadium, beating their opponent Munster 9 ? 8.
One of the main tourist attractions is ?Cottesbrooke Hall and Gardens? This is a fine stately home that was built in 1702 with the ?Arts and crafts garden? which was added in 1930. The garden is known as the pattern for Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. Althorp pronounced as ?All ? Thorp? is the country estate of the Spencer Family. Princess Diana grew up there and her brother the Earl Spencer now lives their and manages the estate.
The house was made originally of red brick and but later in the 18th century many modifications were made when Henry Holland was paid a huge commission for the task. Kelmarsh hall is an 18th century house which is built in a beautiful set of Romantic gardens. It is wonderful place to be when the garden is open to the public. Because of Kelmarsh's extensive parkland which is very attractive it is used for attractive outdoor events and shows.
Northampton is located near junctions 15, 15a, 16 of the M1 motorway. The 2 highways A45 and A43 go through the towns. The A45 goes through East Birmingham bypassing Coventry and Rugby. The A14 runs all the way to the port of Felixstowe.
In addition to great road connections Northampton has direct rail connections to London (Euston) and Birmingham. You can also get connecting trains to Liverpool, Manchester, North Wales, Crewe, Glasgow and the Lake District all on the West Coast Mainline.
I hope you enjoyed reading this tourist information and travel guide to Northampton. Please look out for the next instalment which will reveal some more interesting facts about my city.
Newton Abbot is a market town based in Devon and is famously known for its racecourse situated between the town and Kingsteignton. It was established in 1866 and then redeveloped in 1969 with the introduction of the main grandstand that had its opening conducted by The Queen Mother. The corporate facilities brought forward in 1990 provided areas for corporate meetings, conference rooms alongside newly built cafe's and bars. The course is 91 acres long and is worth a visit as it is a significant destination in the town.
For a historical view of Newton Abbot you can visit Bradley Manor, a manor house formed in an L-shape. Built in the thirteenth century, the house's architectural design today dates back from 1420 and includes features such as The Chapel and Great Hall. The house is made of locally based limestone with granite doorways and fireplaces. The building harpers back to the medieval period which is illustrated in its interior. It is open from April until September however you can book appointments in October.
Another historical feature that is worth a visit is St Leonard's Tower which was originally a medieval chapel however the tower is all that is left of the building. The main chapel was completely destroyed in 1836. Here you are able to see a plaque that was created to mark the area in which William III; Prince of Orange had his declaration.
The Newton Abbot Museum is a further glimpse into the town's social history with a brilliant range of collections that look closely at the Great Western Railway. Children can visit the GWR room where they can gain a real sense of how the Great Western Railways worked, as they have the opportunity to have their very own hands on experience.
An amazing feature within the museum is the model of the South Devon Railway which was built by a local engineer, Peter Parks. The model was made in order to serve the Brunel 200 Celebrations and has been adapted from previous drawings of the model by The Broad Gauge Society.
Visitors can also go to one of the only two remaining cider houses in all of England, Ye Olde Cider Bar. Here, the cider is brewed and sold within the building and is made from locally grown cider orchards. In earlier years, cider houses were found frequently and were not seen as uncommon however, this is no longer the case. The bar is completely traditional as the interior of the building has not differentiated much in the last 30 years. Situated on East Street, Ye Olde Cider Bar specialises only in Perry, country wines, cider and all arrays of soft drinks.
The town has a low key nightlife as it offers traditional and historically built pubs and bars. There are a few night clubs, the main one being, Rafters Nightclub, which is the focal destination for visitors who like a variety of music ranging from dance to pop. Hush and Enigma is a bar and nightclub that opened in spring 2006, consisting of two floors filled with music from the seventies, eighties and current alternative music genres.
Both Jamie Watters & Julie James are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jamie Watters has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure. Jamie Watters - CityLocal Northampton Business Directory . Jamie Watters's top article generates over 480 views. to your Favourites.
Julie James has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure. Julie James - CityLocal Newton Abbot . Julie James's top article generates over 480 views. to your Favourites.