The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: Probably about 1 mile
Time to walk: About 1 hour, although could be combined with a walk along the river to the lakes & Aldwincle to make a full day
Difficulty: Easy – all on hard paths
Parking: We parked in the free Sackville Street car park. what3words: primed.delays.jiffy
Public toilets: In the car park, or several pubs in the town
Map of the route: @Thrapston Heritage Trail
This was the 3rd small town Heritage Trail that we had a look at in January 2015 whilst the fields were too wet to walk
On a dry day you could combine it with our other walk below which starts in Thrapston & heads out into some fabulous countryside…
Thrapston lies close to the River Nene on the junction of the A14 & the A45. The name means ‘Farmstead or town of a man named Thraepst’
Until the 1960s, Thrapston had two railway stations… Thrapston (Midland) was on the Kettering to Cambridge route & the former station & viaduct can be seen from the adjacent A14 road. Thrapston (Bridge Street) was on the former LNWR Northampton to Peterborough line
The market charter was granted over 800 years ago in 1205. This is celebrated every year with the town holding a Charter fair
A relative of George Washington, Sir John Washington, lived in Chancery Lane in the town & his wife is buried in the church. Sir John was brother to George Washington’s great grandfather
Let’s Walk!!
1. Park in Sackville Street car park & turn left down towards the T-junction with Huntingdon Road…
Directly ahead is The Old Rectory, a Grade II listed building. It’s an Elizabethan building designed by WF Donthorpe in 1836
2. Turn left & walk up Huntingdon Road. On the corner is one of many of the old pubs in the town…The Mason Arms…
3. Almost next door is The Court House…
The Court House was built in the 19th century as a county police station & also had a small courtroom. The small adjacent lane led to the cells from where people were transferred to Bedford prison
4. The next building on the left’s the imposing Thrapston House, a Grade II listed property…
5. Continue up Huntingdon Road until you reach the signpost to the Baptist Church…
Another listed building, it opened on 27th March 1788…
6. Now cross over the road & head back down the other side…above the wall here’s the Peace Memorial Park…
This park was bought by the council as a memorial to those who died in World War I. There used to be a large sycamore tree called the “Elephant Tree’ which unfortunately was felled in 2011. You can just see it above…
7. Cross the street back into Oundle Road again &, on the left’s an area known as Coronation Gardens…
In 1953 the Girl Guides planted a garden here in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II coronation…
Nice memorial though
At the far end is the Calling Post which originally stood on Thrapston Wharf when all goods were moved by boat…
8. Slightly further up Oundle Road turn left down the alley just past the supermarket. The view of the church from here is lovely & so is the white building on the left. Turn round to look at the fabulous lamp
Enter the churchyard…
9. St James Church dates back to around the 13th century, although there have been many additions…
The best time to visit is either Tuesday or Saturday when the cafe will be open between 10am & noon
10. The interior is rather lovely…
There’s something rather special in this church, on the back left wall as you enter. Look for a stone tablet…
The tablet shows The Washington Arms, which are said to be te inspiration for the National Flag of the United States, the famous “Stars and Stripes” – look…the stars are there & are also reflected in the civic badge & flag of Thrapston
Sir John Washington, the great great great uncle of George Washington the first President of the USA, died in Thrapston in 1688
11. Exit through the opposite gate…
…to enter an area known as The Bullring
This is thought to be where the old market was held after King John granted the Market Charter in 1205. He awarded the market charter in return for two palfreys (small riding horses) & they are now represented on Thrapston’s civic badge & flag.
The Charter is still celebrated in June every year, when the annual ‘Charter Fair’ is held on the High Street
12. Continue through The Bullring to arrive in Chancery Lane & turn left heading towards Huntingdon Road again. The building over the road known as Montague House was the Washington family home…
The name Montague House comes from a doctor who lived there named Montague who later married into the Washington family
13. Coming out of Chancery Lane turn right & walk down the High Street & straight aead into Bridge Street to have a look at Thrapston Bridge wit its nine arches
The view along the river is a favourite &, if you ave time, have a stroll along it
If you fancy stopping off for refreshments then The Woolpack Inn‘s worth a visit…
14. Head back down Bridge Street & turn right at the mini roundabout & walk along Midland Road for approximately 1/2 mile before turning left up Cedar Drive
At the top here are two properties…the Union Workhouse…
…& The infirmary
The Union Workhouse was built in 1836 & designed by William J Donthorn who was responsible for the design of many workhouses in the east of England including those at Ely, Wisbech, Oakham & Uppingham. The Poor Law Commissioners authorised an expenditure of £4,400 on construction of the building which was intended to accommodate up to 200 inmates
The Infirmary was built in 1900 following the Local Government Board National Inspector reporting that the Thrapston Union should provide better nursing accommodation & more beds for the sick
15. Head back towards the town centre &, at the mini roundabout turn right up the High Street. The building that was once Barclays Bank is worth a closer look…
In 1783, George Eland had a drapers shop here. He combined his business with banking &, in 1812, became associated with the Stamford & Rutland Bank. A partnership was formed to carry on a banking business under the name of the Thrapston & Northamptonshire Bank. The proprietors were William Johnson, Stephen Eaton & George Eland. The first two were the original proprietors of the Stamford & Rutland Bank, but the day to day business of the Thrapston Bank was left to George Eland
When George Eland died the remaining partners continued the business for 16 years, but in July 1888 found themselves in financial difficulties & accepted the offer of the Stamford Spalding & Boston Banking Co
In 1911 the Stamford Spalding & Boston Banking Co amalgamated with Barclay & Co which, in 1917, became Barclays Bank. Barclay’s branches at Thrapston & Market Place, Kettering are the successors to Messrs Eland & Eland
16. Just along from the Bank is the Corn Exchange…
This building was originally The George Inn & was converted into the Corn Exchange in 1850
17. Continue to the traffic lights passing a couple more of Thrapston’s plentiful watering holes…
The King’s Arms…
…& The Fox…
18. Turn left into Oundle Road & then right up Sackville Street to arrive back at the start of this walk
So that’s Thrapston, which is just a lovely, traditional market town. I would suggest you combine it with Walk 17 if you fancy a full day out
Go Walk!