5 unknown facts about Northamptonshire

We, at T&K Home Improvements, are proud to have our roots in Northamptonshire. We’ve been based here for over 40 years and are proud to have built a name for ourselves in the area. In honour of this, we’ve collected 5 rarely known facts about the county.

The apricot village

Apricots came to Britain in 1542 when the gardener of King Henry VIII brought some trees back from Italy. Ideal soil conditions saw the fruit thrive in Aynho, a small village near the southernmost border of Northamptonshire, years later. According to stories passed down the generations, residents of the village would pay part of their rent to the Lord of the Manor in apricots.

However, this story was refuted by the last of the line of the family to live in the village in 1945. Today, the legacy still remains as apricots still thrive throughout the village, however, many people throughout the UK choose to grow apricots in their orangery or conservatory. Create the ideal living space for you and your family with T&K’s wide range of orangeries and conservatories in various styles and finishes to perfectly match your home.

The Northamptonshire witch trials

Agnes Browne has the dubious honour of being the first person in Northamptonshire to be punished under the 1563 law against witchcraft. Agnes, her daughter and 3 others were executed by hanging on the 22nd of July 1612. According to documents from the University of Oxford archive, Agnes “died both hated, and feared among her neighbours”.

Elinor Shaw and Mary Phillips were long believed to have been the last people in the county to be executed for being witches. The pair were burnt at the stake in Northampton for their offences in March 1705. And what were those offences? It’s believed they “made a jailor dance naked in the courtyard for a full hour.”

It’s still unclear how many people were executed for this crime in Northamptonshire, but estimates suggest that 200,000 people were burnt, hanged or tortured in Europe between 1484 and 1750.

Shoemaking legacy

Northamptonshire has a rich shoemaking reputation and history, including making shoes for soldiers in the second English Civil War in 1648. It’s estimated that as many as 70 million pairs of footwear worn by the British Army in the 1st World War were manufactured in the county too.

Family-run bespoke boot manufacturer Horace Batten are based in Ravensthorpe, a small village around 30 minutes away from Northampton. Their famous work includes making a pair of heavy jackboots for actor Dave Prowse to wear in his role as Darth Vader in Stars Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and British showjumpers Nick Skelton and Harvey Smith.

Much like Horace Batten, T&K Home Improvements has built up a reputation for quality workmanship amongst homeowners across Northamptonshire. Pop into our showroom in Wellingborough showroom to our display of doors, windows and conservatories.

Britain’s first car chase

A few weeks before the May performance of the world-famous Barnum and Bailey Circus, on April 17 1899, Frederick John Phillips was scamming shop owners in Northampton by telling them they would receive free tickets to put up posters advertising the Circus coming to town. To keep his books up to date, he asked for an upfront deposit stating he would refund the money at the box office before the performance.

Jane Botterill, a suspicious shopkeeper, alerted Sergeant Hector McLeod about Phillips’ trick. Sergeant McLeod waved down local tailor, and the third person in Northampton to own a car, William Herbert Harrison while driving his 3 ½ horsepower Benz.

The pair sped off at an overwhelming 15 miles an hour after the crook, eventually catching him a few miles outside of the town. Legend has it that McLeod was told off for driving too fast, but regardless, his name will live on as he was involved in Britain’s first ever car chase.

Northamptonshire is home to a global award-winning gin distillery

Gin and tonic is a quintessentially British drink that dates back to the 19th century when it was consumed by British soldiers stationed in India. One of the rising stars in the world of gin is based in little Northamptonshire town Harrington.

Harrington is a small village only a few miles from Kettering and home to Falls Farm, a converted barn that houses Warner’s Distillery. The distillery is run by the husband and wife team Tom and Tina Warner who distil the gin in small batches using only natural ingredients grown on the farm or locally sourced.

Are you on Facebook? We’re giving away a luxury gin hamper from Warner’s Distillery. To get your hands on this awesome prize, simply like our Facebook page, like and share the post, and tag a friend who would love this hamper. The competition ends on 30th April 2019, good luck!

One of Northamptonshire’s leading home improvement companies

Get in touch with T&K about your next home improvement project. No matter the size of the project, with our range of quality doors, windows, conservatories and more, you will find the perfect product to suit your home. We will give you peace of mind every step of the way with our unparalleled installation expertise and customer service. Give us a call on 0800622716 or request a free quote online.