Oundle

"OUNDLE, a parish, post and market town, in the hundred of Polebrook, county Northampton, 8 miles from Thrapston, 13 from Peterborough, and 30 N.E. of Northampton. It is within half a mile of its station on the Peterborough branch of the London and North-Western railway. It is situated on the northern bank of the river Nen, by which it is nearly surrounded, and which is here crossed by two bridges. The parish contains, besides the town of its own name, the hamlets of Ashton, Biggin, Churchfield, and Elmington. Oundle is a polling and petty sessions town, and is mentioned in Domesday Book as Undela.  ... It is well paved and lighted with gas, and contains a townhall, several good shops, two branch banks, a savings-bank, and a commodious market house, with shambles, situated in the old market place. The magistrates meet once a fortnight at the townhall to hold petty sessions, and a court for the hundred occurs annually; also courts leet and baron are held annually, in October, under Jesse Watts Russell, Esq., who is lord of the manor.  ... A portion of the inhabitants are employed in lace making. The Poor-law Union of Oundle comprises 37 parishes or townships, 32 of which are in the county of Northampton, and 5 in that of Huntingdon. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Peterborough, value £500, in the patronage of the lord chancellor. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is an ancient cruciform structure, ... The charities produce about £110 per annum. There are almshouses for seven aged men founded by the Lord Mayor Laxton in 1556, and under the superintendence of the Grocers' Company; there is also a hospital for eighteen aged females, founded and endowed by the Rev. Nicholas Latham in 1611. The educational establishments consist of Laxton's Free Grammar school, Latham's Blue-coat school, National, British, and infant schools. The two first named schools are in connection with the charitable institutions before-mentioned, and were founded and endowed about the same period. The Baptists, Independents, Wesleyans, and Roman Catholics have each a place of worship. Lilford Hall and Biggin Hall are the principal residences. Market day is Thursday. Fairs are held on the 25th February for horses and cattle, Whit-Monday, 21st August, for stock, and a pleasure fair on the 12th October."[From The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868). Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]