Northamptonshire County
(Historic)

Map Reference: (52.305291, -0.911244)

Northamptonshire is an inland county in the Midlands. A rose has long been the emblem of the county, and Northamptonshire is known as "The Rose of the Shires". During the 18th and 19th centuries, Northamptonshire became the boot and shoe making capital of the world. Much of the county has remained largely rural. The south-west of Northamptonshire is a rural area save for the small towns of Towcester, Daventry and Brackley. To the north-east, on the River Nene, lies Northampton, the county town. Whilst the centre remains that of a traditional market town, it is surrounded by modern suburbs. To the north-east of the county town, a group of industrial towns (Rushden, Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby) stretch across the county from south to north. North-east of these towns is a large rural area, the only sizeable settlement being the ancient market town of Oundle. The remains of Fotheringhay Castle are nearby. The Soke of Peterborough, which forms the far north-east of the county, has its origin in the Mid-Saxon period. The ancient cathedral city of Peterborough is the heart of the Soke.