All Saints' Church in the heart of Northampton - England

All Saints' Church, Northampton situated in the centre of Northampton, is a Parish Church of the Church of England and Northampton's Civic Church. It is a Grade I listed building.
Simon de Senlis' church of All Hallows, Northampton, England, lasted with medieval alterations until disaster struck the town on 20 September 1675. Most of the old town was destroyed by fire, not unlike the Great Fire of London in 1666. The fire began in St. Mary's Street, near the castle, and the inhabitants fled to the Market Square, but then were forced to evacuate, leaving the buildings to burn, including All Hallows:

All Hallows Bells jangled their last and doleful Knell, presently after the Chimes had gone Twelve in a more pleasant Tune: And soon after the wind which did flie swifter than Horsemen, carried the Fire near the Dern-Gate, at least half a Mile from the place where it began, and into St. Giles-street in the East, and consumed every house therein, save one, whose end-Walls were higher than the Roof, and by them preserved.

Northampton - town in the centre of England

Northampton's position in the centre of England has given it national importance ever since the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is the county town of Northamptonshire, also know as the county of 'squires and spires'.

The attractive old town has a fine market square, one of the largest and most impressive in England. Although the town was seriously damaged by the Great Fire of 1675, many interesting historic buildings have survived.

The well-preserved Norman church of the Holy Sepulchre is one only four remaining round churches in England. Founded in 1100 AD by Simon de Senlis, first Earl of Northampton, the church is Northampton's oldest standing building. All Saints Church in George Row is a magnificent Grade I listed building, rebuilt in 1680 after the Great Fire.

The Welsh House and Hazelrigg House in Northampton are also handsome buildings and a social history museum in Abington Park is housed in a 15th century manor house, once the home of Shakespeare's granddaugher.

Northampton's splendid Guildhall, a gem of Victorian architecture, was designed by the celebrated architect, Edward Godwin.

Northampton also boasts many modern facilities including the pedestrianised shopping area of Abington Street and several indoor shopping precincts.

Don't miss 78 Derngate, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

The town has many attractive parks, gardens and riverside walks.

Members of the royal family have visited the town on many occasions, from the time of Henry I right up to the the late Princess of Wales, whose family home was at nearby Athorp.

Daventry - England

 My New Living Place

The town comprises a historic market centre surrounded by much modern housing and light industrial development. On the edge of the town centre is the popular Daventry Country Park and reservoir.

There are 74 buildings or groups of buildings in the centre of Daventry that are on the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest led by the Church of Holy Cross at grade I. Grade II* buildings include the Saracen’s Head, the Moot Hall, the Wheatsheaf.  Grade II listed buildings include several in Market Place, Church Walk, New Street, High Street, Sheaf Street and the United Reformed Church, the Burton Memorial (commemorating Edmund Charles Burton, Danetre Hospital Offices (former workhouse) and Middlemore Farmhouse (now a pub), also in Drayton – School Street and Orchard Street.

A street market is held every Tuesday and Friday in High Street, although its original site was on the aptly named Market Square. On the first Saturday of each month a farmers' market is held in High Street.

The town once had a railway station on the former LNWR branch-line from Weedon to Leamington Spa, but it was closed on 15 September 1958 and is now demolished. The local weekly newspaper, the Daventry Express, is nicknamed 'The Gusher', after the steam engine that used to serve the town.