Rothwell Heritage Centre

Length of Trail: 0.5 mile
Time of Walk: 30 minutes
Start and Finish: The Market Square,
Free Parking

The Trail route is suitable for all abilities, including pushchairs and wheelchairs. Local facilities, such as cafes, toilets & benches are passed by.

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Come and Meet the Locals!

Welcome to the ancient market town of Rothwell. Whilst showing you around some of the oldest and most interesting buildings, this Trail will introduce you to some of Rothwell’s historic residents.

This trail starts from the Information panel in the centre of the Market Square.
Please stand with your back to the road, and walk to the far right corner of the square.

1. The Man who Adopted Rothwell
Owen Ragsdale, Rothwell’s childless Elizabethan schoolmaster, had far reaching plans when he built these almshouses. He promised that 25 poor, elderly local men could live rent-free in this Jesus Hospital - forever!
Owen fancied himself as an early Social Services - giving the men distinctive clothes, a fuel allowance and free medical care. 400 years later, it still serves Rothwell’s elderly, though with some married couples, a small rent and no uniforms! Owen’s adoption of the poor “for sons and heirs” means he really is a father of Rothwell.

Now take the path behind you, into the churchyard. Looking at the church, can you see evidence that it was once much larger? It is open at any reasonable time.

2. A Medieval Sense of Humour at Holy Trinity Church
As Rothwell’s earliest surviving building, it has been serving the community since the time of William the Conqueror’s son. At 173 feet, it is the longest parish church in the county. If you wish, you can circle the church - but look out for the many carved faces watching you! Both inside and out, they are the builder’s humorous legacy. While angels are just as common as animals and mythical creatures, some show fat bishops and beautiful ladies - caricatures of local residents perhaps?!

A well timed visit will allow a trip into The Bone Crypt, our next stop. It is accessed through the church, down steep, narrow steps.

3. Meet the Locals
Prepare yourself to descend into the Bone Crypt. Smell the dust of centuries: does the air feel chilly to you? The bones of 1,500 ex-residents surround you. Imagine the grave digger’s horror as, in 1700, he discovered the bricked-up tomb, one of only two in the UK. Legend holds they are the victims of the Battle of Naseby, gathered from the blood stained fields just down the valley. However, the 13th Century crypt probably houses those found when building works outside disturbed their eternal rest. For superstitious reasons, only the skulls and crossbones (leg bones) were salvaged. 90% of those surrounding you are men. It is still a mystery where the disinterred women are...

Please walk away from the church through the watchful avenue of lime trees, towards the War Memorial. Please turn right, up the hill. Cross Bridge Street at the second zebra Crossing. Turn left, noting the Old Fire Station to your right. The next stop is best viewed from this side of the road.

4. The Poor Nuns of Rothwell
The Nunnery is an unusual thatched building in Rothwell. Look out for the worn wooden step and door; this building is older than most. Note the date stone. The name re-collects a nunnery that was founded here in 1247. The nuns were so poor, that they could be seen begging in the street where you stand.
Records show locals giving, amongst other things, “a Browne Kowe” and “a colander”, but otherwise their lives are a mystery. As Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, he almost succeeded in erasing this priory from history.

Now retrace your steps back to the Zebra crossing. As you walk up Bridge Street, notice the jumble of old & newer buildings - which do you prefer? At Market Hill, you will see the large, solitary building on the Square.

5. Was this Rothwell’s Unluckiest Man?
This is the Market House, a gift to Rothwell from the Manorial Lord, Thomas Tresham. Work started in 1577, but the roof wasn’t finished until 1895. Imagine if your builders took 300 years! The problem was that Thomas’ life wasn’t easy. A catholic in times of persecution, he was frequently fined and imprisoned. To top it all, his son was involved in the Gunpowder Plot. So perhaps slow builders were the least of his problems! Can you see the shields? 90 display the symbols of Northamptonshire’s great and good in Thomas’ day. He left many blank for later use - who would you add?

Rothwell Heritage with Desborough & Rothwell Art Gallery.

Here you can discover the diverse and vivid history of the town. The stories of medieval horse sellers, war-time children, silk weavers and shoe makers can be found in the objects, documents and photographs on display.