Welcome To the e-travelguide to Hotels, guest houses and attractions in Northamptonshire

Make the most of your time in Northamptonshire, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links above to plan your visit.

Northamptonshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, and is bordered by the counties of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Rutland. The border with Lincolnshire is, in fact, the shortest land border between two counties in the British Isles. Northamptonshire is a county with a fascinating history and a rich collection of historic sites and stately homes, and is sometimes referred to as the County of Squires and Spires in recognition of this unique heritage. The history of the region now known as Northamptonshire can be traced back to the Neolithic period, although the most reliable evidence is from the habitation of the area around the River Nene by Celtic settlers. During the occupation of the British Isles by the Romans, the principal route known as Watling Street was built through the area but, with the exception of Lactodorum (on the site of the town of Towcester as it is now known), there were few settlements of great importance built here during this time. Following the departure of the Romans, Northamptonshire became part of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Mercia, and it was during this period that the town of Northampton became a major administrative centre – Northampton is the county town of Northamptonshire and also the largest in terms of population, and still serves as the administrative centre for the county today.

The Middle Ages saw castles and strongholds appear throughout Northamptonshire; Fotheringhay Castle gained its place in history when Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned there prior to her execution, and the Battle of Northampton was a critical event in the Wars of the Roses. During the English Civil War, the county of Northamptonshire was staunchly Parliamentarian, and the Royalists suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Naseby, in the north of the county, in 1645. The Industrial Revolution however changed the face of Northamptonshire forever; during the 18 th and 19 th Centuries, the county’s blossoming boot and shoe making industries began to grow at an impressive rate, and for a period of over 200 years Northamptonshire was the tanning capital of the world. Northamptonshire also became an important centre for iron and steel production, and the town of Corby – in the east of the county – expanded rapidly during the early years of the 20 th Century, with Scottish and Irish immigrants contributing to the town’s unique culture and resulted in a remarkable local accent and dialect.

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