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Higham Ferrers

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"HIGHAM-FERRERS, a parish, but formerly a representative borough and market town, exercising separate jurisdiction, though locally in the hundred of Higham-Ferrers, county Northampton, 14 miles E.N.E. of Northampton, and 65 N.N.W. of London. It is a station on the Peterborough and Blisworth branch- of the London and North-Western railway. The town derives its distinguishing appellation from the ancient family of Ferrers, who were its lords, and had a castle here, some traces of which remain. It is built on a rocky eminence, abounding with springs, about half a mile from the north-eastern bank of the navigable river Nen, and was anciently of more importance than at present, returning one member to parliament till disfranchised by the Reform Act. It was originally a borough by prescription, and its privileges were confirmed by a charter granted by Charles II., under which it is nominally governed by a mayor, recorder, 7 aldermen, and 13 burgesses. The greater part of the town is ancient, consisting of two streets and a market stead, where stands the old market cross and the townhall, rebuilt by the corporation in 1812. The tithes have been commuted for land and money payments under an Enclosure Act. The chief business of the town consists in making boots, shoes, and bobbin-lace. The living is a vicarage with Chelveston, in the diocese of Peterborough, value £365. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a spacious structure, with a lofty embattled tower, from which rises an hexagonal crocketed spire of 99 feet, rebuilt in 1632. The W. porch is much ornamented with bas-reliefs, and in the interior is a richly carved screen and ten stalls decorated with curious emblematical devices. The church contains ten ancient brasses, the earliest a large one of a priest, canopied, bearing date 1337, and several ancient monuments. There is a place of worship for Wesleyans, also a school founded by Archbishop Chichele in 1420, who left an endowment of £10 per annum. The parochial charities produce about £72 per annum. Archbishop Chichele, founder of All Souls' College, Oxford, and patron of learning in the reign of Henry V., and Mr. Britton, the musical small-coal man, were born here. The Hon. G. Fitzwilliam is lord of the manor. Fairs are held on the 7th March, 28th June, Thursday before 5th August, 11th October and 6th December." [Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868 by Colin Hinson ©2010]

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Description & Travel

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Gazetteers

The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

"HIGHAM-FERRERS, a parish, but formerly a representative borough and market town, exercising separate jurisdiction, though locally in the hundred of Higham-Ferrers, county Northampton, 14 miles E.N.E. of Northampton, and 65 N.N.W. of London. It is a station on the Peterborough and Blisworth branch- of the London and North-Western railway. The town derives its distinguishing appellation from the ancient family of Ferrers, who were its lords, and had a castle here, some traces of which remain. It is built on a rocky eminence, abounding with springs, about half a mile from the north-eastern bank of the navigable river Nen, and was anciently of more importance than at present, returning one member to parliament till disfranchised by the Reform Act. It was originally a borough by prescription, and its privileges were confirmed by a charter granted by Charles II., under which it is nominally governed by a mayor, recorder, 7 aldermen, and 13 burgesses. The greater part of the town is ancient, consisting of two streets and a market stead, where stands the old market cross and the townhall, rebuilt by the corporation in 1812. The tithes have been commuted for land and money payments under an Enclosure Act. The chief business of the town consists in making boots, shoes, and bobbin-lace. The living is a vicarage* with Chelveston, in the diocese of Peterborough, value £365. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a spacious structure, with a lofty embattled tower, from which rises an hexagonal crocketed spire of 99 feet, rebuilt in 1632. The W. porch is much ornamented with bas-reliefs, and in the interior is a richly carved screen and ten stalls decorated with curious emblematical devices. The church contains ten ancient brasses, the earliest a large one of a priest, canopied, bearing date 1337, and several ancient monuments.

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Maps

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You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SP970683 (Lat/Lon: 52.304589, -0.57897), Higham Ferrers which are provided by: