Rothwell, Northamptonshire
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Template:GBmap-named Rothwell is a market town in Northamptonshire. It is close to Desborough and the larger town of Kettering.
The town has a rich history and possesses a large parish church, complete with bone-crypt and the Market House built by Thomas Tresham. Rothwell was once one of the three largest towns in Northamptonshire, the other two being Northampton and Stamford (now in Lincolnshire).
In 1204 King John issued a royal charter granting Rothwell the right to hold a market every Monday:
- John, by the grace of God King, be it known that we have granted, and by this our present charter do confirm to our beloved and faithful Richard - Earl of Clare and his heirs that they may have their market of Rowell on Monday, with all the liberties and free customs to that market belonging as it was formerly [held] on Sunday, so that nevertheless it be not the hurt of neighbouring markets. Besides which we grant and by this our charter we have confirmed to the same Earl Richard and his heirs, that they may have yearly, a fair at Rowell at the feast of the Holy Trinity for and during the five days, that is to say on the eve of the Holy Trinity and on that day and on three following days, so nevertheless that such fair will not be to the hurt of neighbouring fairs. Wherefore we will and firmly declare that the aforesaid Earl Richard and his heirs may and hold the aforesaid market and the aforesaid fair of us and our heirs in perpetuity well and in peace, freely and quietly, rightly, fully and with honour, with all the liberties and free customs as aforesaid.
- Witness the Lord H. Archbishop of Canterbury, J Norwich and W. London Bishops etc.
- Given at Westminster the 26th day of January, in the fifth year
The granting of the charter is celebrated annually by the week-long Rowell Fair. The fair is opened on the first Monday after Trinity Sunday each year by the Proclamation. Starting at 6am at the west door of Holy Trinity church, the bailiff of the Lord of the Manor rides through the town accompanied by a guard of halberdiers and the Rowell Fair Society Band. At each public house he pauses to read aloud the charter. At the conclusion of each reading the crowd cheers "God save the Queen and the Lord of the Manor" and the band plays the National Anthem. The proprieter of the public house then serves the bailiff and his guards with drinks including the traditional Rowell Fair rum and milk. The local townspeople then attempt to disarm the halberdiers before the party moves on to the next public house. The pubs traditionally remain open after the proclamation, so much merriment is to be had all through the morning.
Rothwell is home to the successful Montsaye Community College, a leading institution in that it was granted dual speciality status in late 2004, adding Humanities to its well established Language College status. Over 1200 students attend the college, which consistently attains a 5 A-C pass rate of around 60%, well above the national average. Mrs Sue Fennell is the current headteacher.
External links
- BBC Coverage of 800th Rowell Fair (http://www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/asop/kettering/rowell/index.shtml)
- Rowell Fair Society (http://www.rothwell-fair.org.uk/)
- Rothwell Town Website (http://www.rothwelltown.co.uk/index.htm)