Raunds
Encyclopedia
Raunds is a small market town
in rural Northamptonshire
, England
. It has a population of 8,275 (2001 census), is a civil parish, and is part of the East Northamptonshire
district.
. The town is on the southern edge of the Nene
valley and surrounded by arable farming land.
Raunds is close to Stanwick Lakes; a country park developed from gravel pits and managed by the Rockingham Forest Trust. This park is internationally recognised for its birdlife and can be reached on foot from Raunds along Meadow Lane bridleway.
Raunds has a day nursery, (Raunds Rainbow Nursery School), a playgroup Raunds Playgroup an infant school (Park Infants),primary school (Windmill Primary School, junior school (St. Peter's Junior School) and one secondary school (Manor School and Sports College). Manor School has a new all-weather, floodlit sports pitch, which cost £500,000.
, was delayed by several years while archaeologists
studied the remains. In 2002 Channel 4
's Time Team
excavated a garden and found remains of an Anglo-Saxon
cemetery.
St Peter's Church, where building work was started in the 13th Century, has the second tallest spire in Northamptonshire
at 202 feet (61.5m). The church stands on the site of a Saxon
place of worship. During the 15th century patronage of the church changed from St Mary to St Peter
. The church features a rare 'left-handed fiddler' decoration above the western entrance. A tombchest dedicated to John Wales, vicar from 1447 to 1496, proves the building has been in use for more than 550 years.
Raunds played a role in the boot and shoe industry until its decline in the 1950s and 60s. In 1905, a dispute arose about wages to be paid to army bootmakers, which culminated in a march to London in May that year. Several factories remained into the early 1990s but all are now closed, with many being demolished and housing estates built. The Coggins boot factory was the last to go, and the site of it is now Coggins Close. There is no industry in the town, but on the outskirts there are some industrial sites.
Raunds once held the record for the highest temperature in Britain at 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) (set on 10 August 1911). This record stood until 1990.
Raunds was the home of broadcaster, writer and television personality Sir David Frost
in his youth, when his father, Paradine Frost, was a minister at the Methodist church. It appears that he was a good cricketer, topping the averages at the cricket club in 1956.
Raunds was visited by the Channel 4 programme 'Inbetweeners' on 19 January 2011, in connection with the Comic Relief fund-raising 'Rude Road Trip', because of the interesting signs: Titty Ho and Butts Road.
and A1 is close and the A14 runs into the M6
. Consequently the area attracts distribution companies, and there are many warehouses.
and a local service termed the 'Raunds Rover'.
from Wellingborough
and Kettering
stations.
There was once a Raunds railway station
, on the Midland Railway
's cross-country line from Kettering
to Huntingdon
, closed in September 1959, and which gave access to St Ives
and Cambridge
, though Raunds station was inconveniently sited 1½ miles from the town. It was also planned that the Midland's Wellingborough
to Higham Ferrers
branch, also closed in 1959, would continue to Raunds, but landowners prevented it.
In what would have been a far more ambitious scheme, the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway (the forerunner of the Great Central
), proposed a line from Doncaster
to Raunds in an early version of its bid to build a trunk line to the capital. This line never came to fruition, and the company eventually built its London Extension
via Nottingham
, Leicester
, Rugby
and Brackley
.
can be reached in a day. The Nene Valley river section connects to the Middle Level Navigation System, making it possible to reach Cambridge
and Peterborough
. The nearest marina is Willy Watt's in Ringstead, Northamptonshire
.
distribution centre, and depots for Robert Wiseman Dairies
and Avery Dennison. Raunds Co-operative Society
ran a supermarket and department store and had 4,000 members until 2007 when it merged with the larger Midlands Co-operative Society
. The shops still operate.
A market is held on Fridays in the square. Regular stalls include butchers, plant stockists and confectioners. Local organisations and clubs can also set up a stall.
Raunds Music and Drama Society (MADS) hold several stage performances throughout the year.
The town holds a Christmas festival in the square. Continental markets are held annually to celebrate neighbouring countries.
Woodbine Working Mens Club and Conservative Club have offered community and recreational facilities from their current sites since 1901 and 1902 respectively, although the Woodbine club closed in 2005.
Indoor shooting times are as follows:
October - March each year
Friday evening 7-9pm
Saturday afternoon 2-4pm
Sunday mornings 10am-1pm
Outdoor shooting times are as follows:
Thursday evenings 7-9pm
Friday evening 7-9pm
Saturday afternoon 2-4pm
Sunday mornings 10am-1pm
For more information go to www.archersofraunds.co.uk
, Keyston
, Stanwick
, Rushden
, Higham Ferrers
, Thrapston
, Hargrave
, Wellingborough
, Irthlingborough
, Chelveston
.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in rural 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,...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It has a population of 8,275 (2001 census), is a civil parish, and is part of the East Northamptonshire
East Northamptonshire
East Northamptonshire is a local government district in Northamptonshire, England. Its council is based in Thrapston and Rushden, which is the largest town in the area...
district.
Geography
Raunds is situated 21 miles north-east of NorthamptonNorthampton
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...
. The town is on the southern edge of the Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
valley and surrounded by arable farming land.
Raunds is close to Stanwick Lakes; a country park developed from gravel pits and managed by the Rockingham Forest Trust. This park is internationally recognised for its birdlife and can be reached on foot from Raunds along Meadow Lane bridleway.
Raunds has a day nursery, (Raunds Rainbow Nursery School), a playgroup Raunds Playgroup an infant school (Park Infants),primary school (Windmill Primary School, junior school (St. Peter's Junior School) and one secondary school (Manor School and Sports College). Manor School has a new all-weather, floodlit sports pitch, which cost £500,000.
History
In the mid-1980s, during sand excavations in the Nene valley, the remains of a Roman villa were discovered. Excavation of the area, near Stanwick, NorthamptonshireStanwick, Northamptonshire
Stanwick is a village and civil parish in East Northamptonshire, England. It is approximately 15 miles north-east of Northampton and is the largest village in the East Northamptonshire district. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish population was 1,924 people.-History:There has been a...
, was delayed by several years while archaeologists
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
studied the remains. In 2002 Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's Time Team
Time Team
Time Team is a British television series which has been aired on Channel 4 since 1994. Created by television producer Tim Taylor and presented by actor Tony Robinson, each episode features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days, with Robinson explaining...
excavated a garden and found remains of an Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
cemetery.
St Peter's Church, where building work was started in the 13th Century, has the second tallest spire 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,...
at 202 feet (61.5m). The church stands on the site of a Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
place of worship. During the 15th century patronage of the church changed from St Mary to St Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
. The church features a rare 'left-handed fiddler' decoration above the western entrance. A tombchest dedicated to John Wales, vicar from 1447 to 1496, proves the building has been in use for more than 550 years.
Raunds played a role in the boot and shoe industry until its decline in the 1950s and 60s. In 1905, a dispute arose about wages to be paid to army bootmakers, which culminated in a march to London in May that year. Several factories remained into the early 1990s but all are now closed, with many being demolished and housing estates built. The Coggins boot factory was the last to go, and the site of it is now Coggins Close. There is no industry in the town, but on the outskirts there are some industrial sites.
Raunds once held the record for the highest temperature in Britain at 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) (set on 10 August 1911). This record stood until 1990.
Raunds was the home of broadcaster, writer and television personality Sir David Frost
David Frost
Sir David Frost is a British broadcaster.David Frost may also refer to:*David Frost , South African golfer*David Frost , classical record producer*David Frost *Dave Frost, baseball pitcher...
in his youth, when his father, Paradine Frost, was a minister at the Methodist church. It appears that he was a good cricketer, topping the averages at the cricket club in 1956.
Raunds was visited by the Channel 4 programme 'Inbetweeners' on 19 January 2011, in connection with the Comic Relief fund-raising 'Rude Road Trip', because of the interesting signs: Titty Ho and Butts Road.
Road
Raunds is adjacent to the A45 and close to the A14. Access to the M1M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
and A1 is close and the A14 runs into the M6
M6 motorway
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction . Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74 which continues to...
. Consequently the area attracts distribution companies, and there are many warehouses.
Bus
Bus services are not great, although Raunds does have some. The X46 links the town with Wellingborough and Northampton, running half-hourly. There are intermittent routes to HuntingdonHuntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is the traditional county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council. It is known as the birthplace in 1599 of Oliver Cromwell.-History:Huntingdon...
and a local service termed the 'Raunds Rover'.
Rail
Connections are provided by East Midlands TrainsEast Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains is a British passenger train operating company. Based in Derby, it provides train services in the East Midlands, chiefly in the counties of Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, and between the East Midlands and London...
from Wellingborough
Wellingborough railway station
Wellingborough railway station is located the market town of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, it is from London St. Pancras...
and Kettering
Kettering railway station
Kettering railway station is to the south-west of the Kettering town centre in Northamptonshire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, north of London St...
stations.
There was once a Raunds railway station
Raunds railway station
Raunds railway station is a railway station that once served the town of Raunds in Northamptonshire, England. The station was an intermediate stop on the to railway line that closed in 1959....
, on the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
's cross-country line from Kettering
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
to Huntingdon
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is the traditional county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council. It is known as the birthplace in 1599 of Oliver Cromwell.-History:Huntingdon...
, closed in September 1959, and which gave access to St Ives
St Ives, Cambridgeshire
St Ives is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England, around north-west of the city of Cambridge and north of London. It lies within the historic county boundaries of Huntingdonshire.-History:...
and Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, though Raunds station was inconveniently sited 1½ miles from the town. It was also planned that the Midland's 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...
to Higham Ferrers
Higham Ferrers
Higham Ferrers is a market town in the Nene Valley in East Northamptonshire, England, close to the Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire borders. It forms a single urban area with Rushden to the south and has an estimated population of 6,086...
branch, also closed in 1959, would continue to Raunds, but landowners prevented it.
In what would have been a far more ambitious scheme, the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway (the forerunner of the Great Central
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
), proposed a line from Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
to Raunds in an early version of its bid to build a trunk line to the capital. This line never came to fruition, and the company eventually built its London Extension
Great Central Main Line
The Great Central Main Line , also known as the London Extension of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway , is a former railway line which opened in 1899 linking Sheffield with Marylebone Station in London via Nottingham and Leicester.The GCML was the last main line railway built in...
via Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, Rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
and 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...
.
Waterways
Stanwick Lakes are within walking or cycling distance of Raunds, and river ways connect to the Nene Valley river section. By boat, OundleOundle
Oundle is an ancient market town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 5,345 or 5,674 . It lies some north of London and south-west of Peterborough...
can be reached in a day. The Nene Valley river section connects to the Middle Level Navigation System, making it possible to reach Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
. The nearest marina is Willy Watt's in Ringstead, Northamptonshire
Ringstead, Northamptonshire
Ringstead is a small village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England approximately 15 miles north-east of Northampton. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 1,428 people....
.
Trade
There are many small businesses and many people commute to larger centres for work (see section on Road transport). Raunds is home to a HotpointHotpoint
The Hotpoint Electric Heating Company is a British brand of domestic appliances. The brand is currently fully owned by Italy's Indesit....
distribution centre, and depots for Robert Wiseman Dairies
Robert Wiseman Dairies
Robert Wiseman Dairies plc is a large Scottish milk supplier and distributor. They are now one of the largest dairy businesses in Great Britain with seven major dairies . Robert Wiseman Dairies also distribute cream and orange juice...
and Avery Dennison. Raunds Co-operative Society
Raunds Co-operative Society
Raunds Co-operative Society Limited was a consumer co-operative society based in Raunds, Northamptonshire, founded in 1891.The society operated a large supermarket and a department store in Raunds, and as of 2007 held of farmland at Northdale Farm, farming wheat and oilseed rape.It had 4,297...
ran a supermarket and department store and had 4,000 members until 2007 when it merged with the larger Midlands Co-operative Society
Midlands Co-operative Society
The Midlands Co-operative Society Limited is a regional consumer co-operative in the United Kingdom. It is a registered Industrial and Provident Society, a member of the Co-operative Union Ltd., the Co-operative Retail Trading Group, the Co-operative Travel Trading Group and a corporate member of...
. The shops still operate.
A market is held on Fridays in the square. Regular stalls include butchers, plant stockists and confectioners. Local organisations and clubs can also set up a stall.
Culture
Raunds holds an annual music festival over a weekend in early May: Raunds Music Festival Website. Events include: rock and folk concerts starring nationally and internationally known artists, performances by Raunds Community Choir, song and tune sessions, dancing displays, a ceilidh and an annual youth dance competition.Raunds Music and Drama Society (MADS) hold several stage performances throughout the year.
The town holds a Christmas festival in the square. Continental markets are held annually to celebrate neighbouring countries.
Woodbine Working Mens Club and Conservative Club have offered community and recreational facilities from their current sites since 1901 and 1902 respectively, although the Woodbine club closed in 2005.
Football
Raunds Town FC are at Kiln Park and play in the United Counties Football League. As well as the first team, they also have reserve, women's and youth teams. Raunds Tigers FC focus on junior football and have several youth teams.Cricket
Raunds Town Cricket Club have a ground in Marshalls Road. The team plays in the Northamptonshire League.Archery
Archers of Raunds meet at Manor School and Sports College - everyone is welcome whatever their age or ability. Beginners courses are available, as are 'Have a Go' sessions for corporate events, birthday parties, hen do's etc.Indoor shooting times are as follows:
October - March each year
Friday evening 7-9pm
Saturday afternoon 2-4pm
Sunday mornings 10am-1pm
Outdoor shooting times are as follows:
Thursday evenings 7-9pm
Friday evening 7-9pm
Saturday afternoon 2-4pm
Sunday mornings 10am-1pm
For more information go to www.archersofraunds.co.uk
Mayors of Raunds
In 2005, the Raunds Town Council decided to (instead of having a chairman of the council) elect a Mayor. Holders of this post have been:- 2005-2006: Lisa Costello
- 2006-2007: Dudley Hughes
- 2007-2008: Michelle Goring
- 2008-2009: Peter Wathen
- 2009-2010: Peter Wathen
- 2010-2011: Michael Clements
Nearby settlements
RingsteadRingstead, Northamptonshire
Ringstead is a small village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England approximately 15 miles north-east of Northampton. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 1,428 people....
, Keyston
Keyston
Keyston – in Huntingdonshire , England – is a village near Molesworth west of Huntingdon.The village lies at the western end of Huntingdonshire and the parish's western border coincides with the county boundary with Northamptonshire...
, Stanwick
Stanwick, Northamptonshire
Stanwick is a village and civil parish in East Northamptonshire, England. It is approximately 15 miles north-east of Northampton and is the largest village in the East Northamptonshire district. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish population was 1,924 people.-History:There has been a...
, Rushden
Rushden
Rushden is a town and civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, England.The parish of Rushden covers an area of some and is part of the district of East Northamptonshire. The population of Rushden was estimated at around 28,368, making it the fifth largest town in the county...
, Higham Ferrers
Higham Ferrers
Higham Ferrers is a market town in the Nene Valley in East Northamptonshire, England, close to the Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire borders. It forms a single urban area with Rushden to the south and has an estimated population of 6,086...
, Thrapston
Thrapston
Thrapston is a small town in Northamptonshire, England. It is the headquarters of the East Northamptonshire district, and in 2001 had a population of 4,855. By 2006, this was estimated to be over 5,700....
, Hargrave
Hargrave, Northamptonshire
Hargrave is a small village and civil parish situated in rural Northamptonshire, England, approximately 21 miles east of Northampton and adjacent to the Northamptonshire-Cambridgeshire-Bedfordshire border...
, 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...
, 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...
, Chelveston
Chelveston
Chelveston is a small village in Northamptonshire, England and is part of the East Northamptonshire district. To the south is the hamlet of Caldecott and the settlement of Chelston Rise which together comprise the civil parish called Chelveston-cum-Caldecott....
.
External links
- Raunds War Memorials Research Has interesting Raunds facts.
- RPC Containers
- Raunds Methodist Church
- Raunds Temperance Band
- Raunds Rainbow Nursery School
- Raunds Playgroup
- MyBritishRoots A List of Headstone inscriptions in St Peters Churchyard
- History of St. Peter's church
- Photos of St. Peter's church interior
- St Peter's C of E Junior School
- 2nd Raunds St. Peter's Brownies