Besides great sights, an interesting history and many exciting destinations, Wellingborough has a lot more to offer. Here you will find many helpful tips to enjoy your vacation in Wellingborough.
Here you can find hotels in the area of Wellingborough
Just type in your destination and get many different suggestions.
Sights in Wellingborough
Wellingborough is a town located in the county of Northamptonshire, England. The town has a population of around 55,000 people and is situated just off the M1 motorway, around midway between the cities of Leicester and Milton Keynes. Wellingborough is twinned with the town of Melun in France and the town of Steinheim in Germany.
The town is most notable for its large number of churches there are over 20 in the town, including the 14th century All Hallows Church, which is one of the largest in Northamptonshire. The town also has a number of other historical buildings, including the Elizabethan Yeoman’s House and the Grade I listed Manor House, both of which are open to the public.
Wellingborough’s market square is home to a number of shops and businesses, as well as the town’s weekly market, which has been held since 1201. The square is also home to the town’s war memorial, which commemorates the town’s fallen soldiers from both World War One and World War Two.
Just outside of the town centre is the Wellingborough Museum, which tells the story of the town and its people from prehistoric times to the present day. The museum is housed in a converted Victorian school building and is well worth a visit for anyone interested in the history of the area.
Just to the south of the town is the Wellingborough Sports Stadium, which is home to a number of local sports teams, including Wellingborough Town FC, who play in the Southern League Premier Division.
If you are visiting Wellingborough, or even if you are just passing through, there is plenty to see and do in the town. With its mix of historical and modern attractions, there is something to suit everyone.
History of Wellingborough
Wellingborough is a market town in Northamptonshire, England. The town is situated on the River Nene, about 81 miles (130 km) northnorthwest of London and about 15 miles (24 km) west of Northampton. It had a population of 49,448 at the 2011 Census.
The town was established in the late 9th century by the Saxons and was originally known as Welinga byre, meaning “settlement associated with Welinga”. In the 10th century, it was recorded as Welwetone, and in the 11th century as Welintone. The name is thought to derive from the Old English welig (willow) and tūn (settlement, farm or estate), referring to the large number of willow trees that grew in the area.
The town was granted a charter to hold a market in 1227 by Henry III. It still holds a market today, which is held in the Market Place in the centre of the town.
Wellingborough Castle was built in 1250 by Simon de Senlis, Earl of Northampton. The castle was occupied by Royalist forces during the Civil War and was besieged by Parliamentary troops in 1643. The castle was largely demolished in 1646, at the order of Parliament.
Wellingborough Priory was founded in 1147 by William de Waterville. The priory was dissolved in 1536 by Henry VIII.
St Mary’s Church is the town’s parish church and dates from the 14th century. It is a Grade I listed building.
The Town Hall was built in 1762 and is a Grade II* listed building.
Wellingborough Museum is located in the Town Hall and holds displays on the history of the town.
The Cromwell Museum is located in the town centre and holds displays on Oliver Cromwell, who was born in nearby Huntingdon.
Wellingborough is twinned with Steinfurt in Germany and MeungsurLoire in France.
Vacation in Wellingborough
Wellingborough is a Northamptonshire market town with a population of around 55,000. It is situated in the Nene valley about 10 miles from Northampton and about 12 miles from Kettering.
The town has a history dating back to the AngloSaxon period, when it was known as Wiglindor. Wellingborough’s name is derived from the Old English wiglind + beorg, meaning “ridge of the settlers”. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the town is listed as Wilingeburg.
The town’s market charter was granted by King John in 1201. A market is still held every Wednesday in the streets around the Market Place.
Wellingborough’s medieval parish church dedicated to St Mary the Virgin is one of the largest in the county. It has a Norman tower and spire which were added in the 12th century, and the body of the church was rebuilt in the 13th and 14th centuries. The church was restored in the 19th century.
Wellingborough Castle was built in 1201 by King John and was used as a royal hunting lodge. The castle was destroyed in 1643 during the Civil War and only the earthworks remain.
The town’s prosperity in the 16th and 17th centuries was due to the thriving wool trade. Two wool staplers, William Agas and Thomas Fitzwilliam, built grand houses in the town: Fitzwilliam’s House is now the Wellingborough Museum and Agas’s House is used as offices by Northamptonshire County Council.
The Midland Railway arrived in Wellingborough in 1857 and the London and North Western Railway in 1866. The two railway companies established locomotive and carriage works in the town. The railways brought increased trade and employment to Wellingborough and the town’s population grew rapidly in the second half of the 19th century.
Today, Wellingborough is a thriving market town with a vibrant town centre. The town has a wide variety of shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants. There is a monthly farmers’ market and a twiceweekly outdoor market.
Wellingborough’s leisure facilities include a multiscreen cinema, a theatre, a tenpin bowling alley, an indoor swimming pool and a golf course.
The Nene Valley Steam Railway, a heritage railway, runs for 7 miles from Wellingborough to Peterborough. The heritage railway is run by volunteers and has a vintage steam locomotive and heritage rolling stock.
Just outside Wellingborough is the Rushden Lakes shopping and leisure complex which includes a retail park, a lakeside nature reserve, cycle routes and a children’s play area.
The town is wellconnected by road and rail. The A43 bypasses the town to the east and the A45 trunk road passes to the south. Wellingborough railway station is on the Midland Main Line with regular services to London St Pancras International, Birmingham New Street, Leicester, Derby and Nottingham. East Midlands Airport is around 45 minutes’ drive away.
There are several schools in Wellingborough, including primary schools, secondary schools, a sixth form college and an academy.
Wellingborough is a great place to live, work and visit. There is a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets, from camping and caravanning sites to hotels, guest houses and selfcatering holiday apartments.
Other vacation destinations in England: