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A Brief History of Wellingborough

Although there is evidence of pre-historic and Roman occupation in the area, Wellingborough is essentially Anglo-Saxon in origin, occupied by an Anglo-Saxon war band in the early 6th Century.

The Domesday Book of 1086 shows that 250 people lived in "Wendleburie" at that time.

In 1201, Wellingborough was granted its market charter and markets are still held on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with a bric-a-brac market on Tuesdays.

The town was most noted for its Wells - 5 of these appearing on the Borough's Coat of Arms. The waters were popular with the early Stuart nobility, with reputed visits by Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria.

Notable buildings include the 13th and 14th Century All Hallows Church, an ironstone Tithe Barn from the 15th Century, 17th Century Croyland Abbey and Hind Hotel, St Mary's Church, described by Sir John Betjeman as the "finest modern parish church in England" and the unique circular construction of the Congregational Church built in 1875.

Traditional trades included the spinning, weaving and dyeing of wool, pillowlace making, leather tanning and shoe-making. The first shoe factory opened in 1851 and this remained the town's most important industry well into the 20th Century.

Since the Second World War, there have been dramatic changes in the size and make-up of the population, with an influx of people from London and other cities. Wellingborough is now very much a multi-cultural town, being the home to a wide number of ethnic minority groups - of Afro-Caribbean and Asian origin, Irish, Polish, Italian, Ukrainian, Chinese and Vietnamese. This is reflected in some of the more recent buildings - the Hindu Centre and the Muslim Mosque.

 

For information on heritage activities and events please visit the heritage pages.