Oundle

Coordinates: 52°28′48″N 0°28′19″W / 52.480°N 0.472°W / 52.480; -0.472

Oundle
Oundle  Oundle shown within Northamptonshire
Population	5,674 (2006 estimate)
OS grid reference	TL038880
- London	80 miles (129 km)
District	East Northamptonshire
Shire county	Northamptonshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Peterborough
Postcode district	PE8
Dialling code	01832
Police	Northamptonshire
Fire	Northamptonshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Corby
List of places: UK • England • Northamptonshire

Oundle ( /ˈaʊndəl/) is an ancient market town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 5,345 (2001 census) or 5,674 (2006 estimate).^[1] It lies some 68 mi (109 km) north of London and 12 mi (19 km) south-west of Peterborough. The nearest railway station is at Corby, 9.3 mi (15.0 km) west of Oundle.

History

Inhabited since the Iron Age, Oundle was originally a trading place and market for local farmers and craftsmen. As the area became prosperous, wealthy traders set up shops and houses, and guilds were formed. Unlike other settlements in the vicinity, Oundle was unaffected by the Black Death in the mid-14th century.^{[citation needed]}

Oundle had a grammar school since at least 1465, at which Sir William Laxton (Lord Mayor of London) was educated. He founded Laxton Grammar School in 1556, administered by the Worshipful Company of Grocers, from which Oundle School evolved.

Buildings

Among the oldest buildings is the Talbot Inn. This was constructed of timber; it was rebuilt with stone from the ruins of nearby Fotheringhay Castle. Other public houses include the Rose & Crown, the Ship Inn (a 14th century coaching inn)^{[citation needed]}, the Angel, the George and the Riverside, which is currently derelict.

There are a number of churches. By far the most prominent – with the largest steeple in the area – is St Peter's parish church which occupies the main churchyard. There are also Methodist, Baptist and Roman Catholic churches. However, the Baptist church does not have its own building and holds services on Sunday mornings in the Prince William School.

Other major buildings include the Stahl Theatre, a primary school, and Oundle School buildings which are sometimes open to the public. These include a full-length swimming pool and the Great Hall.

A farmers' market is held in the Market Place on the second Saturday of every month.

There is also a park with swings and climbing frames, as well as a skatepark which was built in 2005.

A fair annually attracts many locals.

Oundle is home to two of the three factories producing Fairline Boats, the third being in Weldon, near Corby. The original factory is at Barnwell Road in Oundle and the newer at the Nene Valley site.

Schools

Narrow section of North Street, Oundle, looking north

The town has a primary school and a middle school which joined Kings Cliffe in 1992.^{[citation needed]}. It is also home to the comprehensive school, Prince William School as well as a public school - Oundle School, each of which have a thousand pupils.

Festivals

The Oundle International Festival (OIF) is a music festival and pipe organ school. The festival was founded in 1985, with the training of young organists as its core. The summer schools are centred on an organ, built by Frobenius of Denmark and installed in Oundle School chapel. A concurrent festival programme for the public was also planned as a recurrent feature.

Close by in Ashton, the World Conker Championships take place on the second Sunday of October. The championship started in 1965.

Oundle also hosts an annual literary festival; the Oundle Festival of Literature.

Returning in 2009, Oundle holds an annual carnival^[2].

Notable people

• Sir William Laxton
• William Abell
• Rowan Atkinson
• Louise Mensch
• Ebenezer Prout

References

1. ^ "Statistics - East Northamptonshire Population Figures". http://www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/pp/service/detail.asp?id=2541. Retrieved 2009-03-23. 
2. ^ "Oundle Carnival". http://www.oundlecarnival.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-06-09. 

External links

• Oundle Tennis Club Website
• Oundle School Website
• Oundle Town Council
• Prince William School
• Oundle On line
• Oundle Chronicle
• St Peter's Church
• Oundle Community Pre-School
• Oundle International Festival
• Oundle Festival of Literature
• Oundle Cinema
• Oundle Underpants Blog