SPOTLIGHT
A Poor Childhood in Everdon
RECOLLECTIONS OF MR WILLIAM ARNOLD In his later years, Mr William Arnold was one of the best known shoe manufacturers in Northampton. He was born at Everdon on 30 December 1860 and this article, on his poverty-stricken early life in that village is based on his...
A Water Supply for Northampton
A WATER SUPPLY FOR NORTHAMPTON The Little Conduit which can be seen in front of All Saints to the left of the pictureImage © Art UK, original held by Northampton Library Whilst I can work out (more or less) where my ancestors lived, I’ve often wondered how they lived,...
William Pritchard of Daventry
WILLIAM PRITCHARD of DAVENTRY This settlement examination is held by Northamptonshire Archives within the Daventry parish chest records (ref NRO 96p/190/28). It shows clearly the difficulties family historians can face when trying to find where an ancestor originated...
Northampton Churches
VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN CHURCHES IN THE TOWN OF NORTHAMPTON To begin with the Established Church of England: The four ancient churches were, and still are: All Saints, in the town centre; St Peter’s, towards the West Bridge; St Sepulchre (the round church) to the...
Woadfolk
In the parish registers are various references to woad labourers, woad cabins, woad folks, woad gatherers and wadders. All these relate to those men and women employed in growing and processing of the woad plant for it’s rich blue dye. Entries appear from the late...
Queen Victoria’s Coronation (County Celebrations)
Queen Victoria’s Coronation was held on Thursday 28 June 1838. The following is taken from reports in the Northampton Mercury and show the various celebrations that were held. It would seem that Roast Beef and Plum Pudding featured on almost all of the menus!...
Murder at East Haddon
As you enter East Haddon Cemetery you will find, standing alone in the corner, a solitary headstone with the following inscription: “Erected by friends and sympathizers to the memory of Annie Pritchard aged 31 years whose remains were found in this parish August 6...
John Marlow of Wood Hill, Northampton (Part 2)
THE LIFE OF JOHN MARLOW OF WOOD HILL,NORTHAMPTON – PART TWOWritten in 1899 for the Northampton Daily Chronicle Old Poppet, the scavenger, a diminutive man with very bow legs but he was very strong in the arms. He used to water the streets with a large can and then...
John Marlow of Wood Hill, Northampton (Part 1)
THE LIFE OF JOHN MARLOW OF WOOD HILL,NORTHAMPTON – PART ONEWritten in 1899 for the Northampton Daily Chronicle John Marlow writes: ‘When I was a boy there stood on Wood Hill the old town Weighing Machine, which was in a dry, covered shed and always under lock and key....
It was cheaper to send them to Canada than to pay them poor relief
Although there was some voluntary emigration to Canada in the 1830s and 1840s, many of those who went were forced to or assisted by the Parish or local property owners who paid the costs involved. This article focuses on South Northamptonshire but could just as easily...