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Daventry

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"DAVENTRY, (or Daintree), a parish and market town, with separate jurisdiction, but locally situated in the hundred of Fawsley, in the county of Northampton, 13 miles from Northampton, and 4 from Weedon. It is supposed to derive its name from the words Dwy-avon-tre, or "town of the two rivers," from its situation between the source of the river Learn and the river Non. ... More." [From The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868). Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]

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Description & Travel

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Gazetteers

The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

"DAVENTRY, (or Daintree), a parish and market town, with separate jurisdiction, but locally situated in the hundred of Fawsley, in the county of Northampton, 13 miles from Northampton, and 4 from Weedon. It is supposed to derive its name from the words Dwy-avon-tre, or "town of the two rivers," from its situation between the source of the river Learn and the river Non. From the common pronunciation of the word Danetree, there is a tradition that the town was built originally by the Danes. Certain it is, that at Danes' or Borough Hill, about half a mile from the town, there are traces of perhaps the largest encampment in England. Near the north-eastern extremity of this encampment, the Roman military way called Watling Street passes, but the camp itself is of more recent date. The town was of considerable importance at the Conquest, and was given by the Conqueror to his niece, Judith, wife of Waltheof, the great Earl of Northumberland. It belonged to Robert Fitzwalter in the reign of King John, and ultimately came to the Finches. Before the battle of Naseby, in 1645, it was occupied by the king on his march to relieve Oxford. Hugh de Leycestre, in 1090, founded a priory, which was granted by Henry VIII. to Cardinal Wolsey. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the manufacture of shoes, whips, and stockings. They are obliged, by a singular custom, to "bake their bread at a public oven, and grind their malt at a public mill," unless exempted by fees. The borough is exempt from contribution to the county, and from serving on its juries. King John granted the first charter to Daventry, and it is now governed under the new Act by a mayor, 4 aldermen, and 12 councilmen. The common seal bears the data 1593, with the impress of a Dane and a tree. It is a polling place for the southern division of the county, and a sessions town. The population in 1851 was 4,430 which in 1861 had decreased to 4,121.

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History

A Description of Daventry from Memories of Daventry Kelly's Directories compiled by Heather Cotton

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Maps

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SP569632 (Lat/Lon: 52.263659, -1.167082), Daventry which are provided by: