Finedon
Encyclopedia
Finedon is a civil parish
and village in the Borough Council of Wellingborough
, Northamptonshire
, with a population at the 2001 census
of 4,188 people. Along with Wellingborough, it is twinned with Wittlich
, Germany
, and Niort
, France
.
In 1086 when the Domesday Book
was completed, Finedon was a large royal manor, previously held by Queen Edith
. At this time the village was known as Tingdene, which may originate from the Danish word Ting
meaning assembly, together with the Saxon Dene for valley or vale
. Tingdene and the later version, Thingdon, were used until the early nineteenth century until finally Finedon became the commonly accepted version, both in written format as well as in pronunciation.
The importance of Finedon at the time of the Domesday Book
is clear, as with a population of 102 it was one of only four towns listed with a population greater than 50 in Northamptonshire
- the others being Northampton
, Brackley
, and Rushton
.
The Bell Inn also claims to be listed in the Domesday Book, but the current building does not date back to this period, and there is evidence that the site of the original inn was situated several hundred metres away. However, the main building was built around 1598, with the current imposing façade
added in 1872.
The Parish Church, St Mary's, is a magnificent mid-14th century church with an aisle
d and cloister
ed nave
of four bays. The current parish priest is Rev Richard Coles
, former member of pop group The Communards. The tower houses a ring of eight bells in the key of D with the tenor weighing just over 21 hundredweight
(about 1.1 tonnes). The church also boasts an impressive organ
which was probably originally built for St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle
in 1704. It was installed in 1717, rebuilt in 1872, and restored in 1960, and it retains its tracker action
. Popular legend has it that Handel
played on the organ before it came to Finedon, but this has never been decisively proved.
Finedon hides away many fascinating buildings which many residents of the town are unaware of. Possibly Finedon's most historical building was the Volta Tower, built in 1865 by Mr Mackworth Dolben. This sadly collapsed in 1951 due to not being constructed with any mortar but the legendary building was a local landmark when it stood.
Finedon is in the Borough Council of Wellingborough
, although many of the inhabitants are anxious to assert Finedon's distinct identity and not be assimilated into the larger town of Wellingborough
.
Finedon has a small country park which is officially called Finedon Pocket Park. The local name for the park area (The Pits) is derived from its historical use as an ironstone
quarry
.
Nearby communities include Irthlingborough
, Burton Latimer
and Little Harrowden
.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
and village in the Borough Council of Wellingborough
Wellingborough (borough)
Wellingborough is a Non-metropolitan district and borough in Northamptonshire, England. It is named after Wellingborough, its main town, but also includes surrounding rural areas....
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, with a population at the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
of 4,188 people. Along with Wellingborough, it is twinned with Wittlich
Wittlich
The town of Wittlich is the seat of the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and thereby the middle centre for a feeder area of 56 municipalities in the Eifel and Moselle area with its population of roughly 64,000...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and Niort
Niort
Niort is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in western France.The Latin name of the city was Novioritum.The population of Niort is 60,486 and more than 137,000 people live in the urban area....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
In 1086 when the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
was completed, Finedon was a large royal manor, previously held by Queen Edith
Edith of Wessex
Edith of Wessex married King Edward the Confessor of England on 23 January 1045. Unlike most wives of kings of England in the tenth and eleventh centuries, she was crowned queen, but the marriage produced no children...
. At this time the village was known as Tingdene, which may originate from the Danish word Ting
Thing (assembly)
A thing was the governing assembly in Germanic and introduced into some Celtic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by lawspeakers, meeting in a place called a thingstead...
meaning assembly, together with the Saxon Dene for valley or vale
River Valley
River Valley is the name of an urban planning area within the Central Area, Singapore's central business district.The River Valley Planning Area is defined by the region bounded by Orchard Boulevard, Devonshire Road and Eber Road to the north, Oxley Rise and Mohamed Sultan Road to the east, Martin...
. Tingdene and the later version, Thingdon, were used until the early nineteenth century until finally Finedon became the commonly accepted version, both in written format as well as in pronunciation.
The importance of Finedon at the time of the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
is clear, as with a population of 102 it was one of only four towns listed with a population greater than 50 in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
- the others being Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, Brackley
Brackley
Brackley is a town in south Northamptonshire, England. It is about from Oxford and miles form Northampton. Historically a market town based on the wool and lace trade, it was built on the intersecting trade routes between London, Birmingham and the English Midlands and between Cambridge and Oxford...
, and Rushton
Rushton, Northamptonshire
Rushton is a small village and civil parish in Northamptonshire. It is north-east of Rothwell. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 452 people. The village has a primary school and a pub opposite the village cricket pitch. The village is home to Rushton Triangular Lodge.-...
.
The Bell Inn also claims to be listed in the Domesday Book, but the current building does not date back to this period, and there is evidence that the site of the original inn was situated several hundred metres away. However, the main building was built around 1598, with the current imposing façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
added in 1872.
The Parish Church, St Mary's, is a magnificent mid-14th century church with an aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
d and cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
ed nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
of four bays. The current parish priest is Rev Richard Coles
Richard Coles
Richard Coles is a musician, journalist and Church of England priest. He is known for having been the multi-instrumentalist who partnered Jimmy Somerville in the 1980s band The Communards, who achieved three Top Ten hits, including the Number 1 record and best-selling single of 1986, a Hi-NRG...
, former member of pop group The Communards. The tower houses a ring of eight bells in the key of D with the tenor weighing just over 21 hundredweight
Hundredweight
The hundredweight or centum weight is a unit of mass defined in terms of the pound . The definition used in Britain differs from that used in North America. The two are distinguished by the terms long hundredweight and short hundredweight:* The long hundredweight is defined as 112 lb, which...
(about 1.1 tonnes). The church also boasts an impressive organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
which was probably originally built for St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
in 1704. It was installed in 1717, rebuilt in 1872, and restored in 1960, and it retains its tracker action
Tracker action
Tracker action is a term used in reference to pipe organs and steam calliopes to indicate a mechanical linkage between keys or pedals pressed by the organist and the valve that allows air to flow into pipe of the corresponding note...
. Popular legend has it that Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
played on the organ before it came to Finedon, but this has never been decisively proved.
Finedon hides away many fascinating buildings which many residents of the town are unaware of. Possibly Finedon's most historical building was the Volta Tower, built in 1865 by Mr Mackworth Dolben. This sadly collapsed in 1951 due to not being constructed with any mortar but the legendary building was a local landmark when it stood.
Finedon is in the Borough Council of Wellingborough
Wellingborough (borough)
Wellingborough is a Non-metropolitan district and borough in Northamptonshire, England. It is named after Wellingborough, its main town, but also includes surrounding rural areas....
, although many of the inhabitants are anxious to assert Finedon's distinct identity and not be assimilated into the larger town of Wellingborough
Wellingborough
Wellingborough is a market town and borough in Northamptonshire, England, situated some from the county town of Northampton. The town is situated on the north side of the River Nene, most of the older town is sited on the flanks of the hills above the river's current flood plain...
.
Finedon has a small country park which is officially called Finedon Pocket Park. The local name for the park area (The Pits) is derived from its historical use as an ironstone
Ironstone
Ironstone is a sedimentary rock, either deposited directly as a ferruginous sediment or created by chemical repacement, that contains a substantial proportion of an iron compound from which iron either can be or once was smelted commercially. This term is customarily restricted to hard coarsely...
quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
.
Nearby communities include Irthlingborough
Irthlingborough
Irthlingborough , originally called Artleborough, is a small town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England with a population of 6,179 people according to the 2001 census. It is the smallest town in England to have possessed a league association football team, Rushden & Diamonds. The parish...
, Burton Latimer
Burton Latimer
Burton Latimer is a town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population in 2001 of 6,740. It is just south of the junction of the A6 and A14 in the borough of Kettering. The two-mile A6 bypass opened in October 1991.-History:...
and Little Harrowden
Little Harrowden
Little Harrowden is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire nearly three miles north-west of Wellingborough, off the A509 road. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 881 people....
.
People from Finedon
- The poet Digby Mackworth DolbenDigby Mackworth DolbenDigby Augustus Stewart Mackworth Dolben was an English poet who died young from drowning. He owes his poetic reputation to his cousin, Robert Bridges, poet laureate from 1913 to 1930, who edited a partial edition of his verse, Poems, in 1911.He was born in Guernsey, and brought up at Finedon Hall...
was brought up at Finedon Hall. - Christophe James Thomas (1988-) ex England rugby international, retired due to drug abuse
- Arthur HenfreyArthur HenfreyArthur George Henfrey was an English footballer who made five appearances for England between 1891 and 1896 playing initially as a forward and later as a half back...
(1867-1929) Cambridge University, Corinthians and England footballer, was born and died in Finedon
External links
- Finedon Online Your connection to local Finedon information
- Church of St Mary the Virgin, Finedon online Parish Magazine
- Finedon Bellringers Information about the Bellringers
- A Pictorial view of Finedon A selection of Photographs of Finedon
- http://www.finedon.org.uk Finedon Past & Present