Thrapston

"THRAPSTON, a parish, post, and market town in the hundred of Navisford, county Northampton, 21 miles N.E. of Northampton, and 75 N.W. of London. There are stations both on the North-Eastern and Midland railway, from Kettering to Huntingdon. This town, at the last census, numbered 1,275 souls. It is situated in a valley on the eastern bank of the river Nene or Nen, which is here crossed by a stone bridge erected about twenty years ago, superseding the wooden bridge of 1795, connecting Thrapston with the village of Islip, 1 mile from Thrapston. At the bridge end, in Leland's time, was a ruined hermitage.  ... There are manor-courts for Thrapston and the honour of Gloucester. There is a considerable market for grain, larger than some other towns in the county, from the presence of two railways, inducing buyers to come from a considerable distance, the Nene navigation simply carrying coals and timber. There are no manufactures here. ... The vicinity has numerous residences of the nobility and gentry, and within 6 miles of the town are 24 villages. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Peterborough, value £430, in the patronage of the lord chancellor. The church, dedicated to St. James, underwent considerable repairs in 1810. The nave and side aisles were rebuilt in 1841.  ... The east-end window was replaced by a memorial one to the memory of Mr. John Yule, vice-chairman of the Northampton quarter sessions, by means of a subscription of his friends.  ...   The National school for both sexes was built in 1851, the site for which was given by the present incumbent, with the consent of the patron and diocesan. The Baptists have a British and Foreign school, £200 being left by a Mr. Hagge, a former minister, to enable them to erect one. Mrs. Mary Elkins, in this connection, left £10 per annum to educate five children for Thrapston, and five for Islip. The Baptists and Wesleyans have chapels. The Poor-law Union of Thrapston consists of 26 parishes or places, 20 of which are in county of Northampton, and 6 in county Huntingdon. The market day is on a Tuesday for cattle, sheep, grain, pigs, &c. Fairs are held on the first Tuesday in May, 5th August, and on the first Tuesday after Old Michaelmas Day." [Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868 by Colin Hinson ©2010]