Daventry

The town, which is situated in a gentle hollow surrounded by hills, has a clean appearance, and is well paved, lighted with gas, and sup plied with water from springs only equalled in purity by those of Malvern. The borough sessions are held at the townhall. The gaol is built on the site of the priory. There are two banks, a county court, and water works. The Grand Junction canal passes through a tunnel upwards of 2,000 yards long, to the N. of the town. The poor-law commissioners have recently erected a workhouse, to accommodate 300 inmates. The union of Daventry comprises 28 parishes, and extends over an area of 95 miles. The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Peterborough, value £344, in the patronage of Christ Church, Oxford. The church is dedicated to the Holy Cross, and has a tower and spire, in which is a clock with musical chimes, and a fine peal of bells. There is a recently built chapel-of-ease, dedicated to St. James, in connection with the parish church. The charities amount to £446 per annum. The Wesleyans and Independents have chapels. There is a free Latin grammar school, founded in 1660, and a National school. R. T. Clark, Esq., is lord of the manor. The manor-house at Ashby St. Ledger's was for centuries the residence of the Catesby family. Naseby is an object of historic interest in the neighbourhood. Before railways were in existence as many as eighty mail and stage coaches passed daily through Daventry, once the great thoroughfare to the north-western parts of England. John Smith, said by Walpole to be the best engraver in mezzotinto, was born here. It gives the title of baron to the Finches, earls of Winchelsea. At the foot of the hills, in the vicinity, are some ancient ruins known as the Burnt Walls, and at a short distance other ruins called John of Gaunt's Castle. A market for provisions is held weekly on Wednesday, and thirteen fairs during the year, the principal of which are those in Easter week and the beginning of October, which last two days.

"DRAYTON, a hamlet in the parish of Daventry, hundred of Fawsley, in the county of Northampton, half a mile W. of Daventry. Drayton Grange is the principal residence. A Roman pavement was discovered here in 1736."