very handsome, and the Town pretty large, having seven Parish Churches within the Walls and 2 without; but it was reduced to Ashes by a dreadful Fire, Sept. 3, 1675. Liberal Contributions from all Part of the Kingdom have reftored it in a great Measure to its original Size; and for Neatness, Beauty, and Situation, few Towns equal it. It has 4 Churches, of which the great one, viz. Allhallows, is a handfome Edifice, with a stately Portico of 12 lofty Ionic Columns, and a Statue of K. Charles II. on the Balluftrade. It ftands near the Center of the Town, and at the meeting of 4 fpacious Streets. The Seffions and Affize House is a very beautiful Building of the Corinthian Order. The Market Place is regular and fpacious, and one of the fineft in Europe. The Horse Market is thought to exceed any other of the Kind in England. Its most famous Manufacture is Shoes, of which great Numbers are exported; and next to that Stockings. The Walls are 2120 Paces in Compafs." Among the public Buildings, which all make a grand Appearance, the George-Inn looks more like a Palace; and as soon as it was finished at the Expence of 2000 l. the Owner, John Dryden, generously gave it to the Poor. The Town is rich and populous, as it is a Thoroughfare both in the N. and W. Roads; for being 80 Miles from the Sea, it can have no Commerce by Navigation. A County Hofpital is built here after the Manner of the Infirmaries of London, Bristol, Bath, &c. and the River Nen has lately been made navigable up to the Town, which will be a Means of fupplying it with Coals, and other heavy Goods, at a cheaper Rate than heretofore. Brackley, 13 M. from Northampton, 57 from London, near the Head of the Ouze, was antiently a famous Staple for Wool; but fince that has been removed, the Town has declined. Here are 2 Parish Churches, and a free Grammar School, formerly a College, belonging to Magdalene College, Oxford. Higham-Ferrers, 20 M. from Brackley, 60 from Lond. is fituated on the E. Side of the Nen. 'Tis a fmall, but clean, pleafant, healthful Town. It has a handfome Church and lofty Spire; a free School, and an Alms house, houfe for 12 Men and one Woman. Here are the ruins of a College founded by Chichley, Archbishop of Canterbury. The other Towns of Note in this County are, Oundle, as it is called by Corruption from Avondale, 10 M. from Peterborough, 9 from Higham-Ferrers, 65 from London, almoft furrounded by the Nen, and is a pretty little Town with a neat Church, a free School and an Alms-house, both founded by Sir William Laxton. It has 2 good Stone Bridges over the River, remarkably large, one in the Road leading to Thrapstone, the other to Yaxley in Huntingdonfbire. That called the North Bridge is taken Notice of by Travellers, for its Number of Arches, and the Caufey that leads to it. This Town is alfo noted for a Well that makes a drumming Noife. The free School and Alms-houfes are fupported by the Grocers, Company in London, Thrapfton, as it is commonly called for Thorpfton, 5 M. from Oundle, 65 from London, has a fine Bridge over the River in the Road to Kettering, and is delightfully fituated in a Valley pleasant for Air, Water, and Soil. Wellingborough, 7 M. from Northampton, 4 from Higham-Ferrers, 65 from London, on the W. Side of the fame River, is a large populous Town with a fine Church, and a free or Charity School for 40 Children. This Town is noted for its medicinal Waters, Q. Mary refided here fix Weeks to drink these Waters. It stands on the S. Side of a Hill, near the River, and has a confiderable Market for Corn, which is their principal Trade. Some Years fince it was almost destroyed by Fire. Towcester, 6 M. from Northampton, 61 from London, in the Road to Chefter, is a very ancient populous Town, confifting of one long and very broad Street. It has a handsome Church, and 3 Bridges over the 3 Streams, into which the little River is here divided. The military Way, called Watling-Street, runs through it, and appears very plainly, in the Road to Stony Stratford. The In habitants habitants here, of all Ages, are employed in Lace and a Manufacture of Silk. Daventry. 10 M. from Towcester, 73 from London, is a great Thorough-fare to and from the N. W. Counties; and has many good Inns. On Burrough Hill are the Remains of an old Roman Fortification, which take in about 200 Acres of Ground. The Roman WatlingStreet was turned through it, and runs to DunfmoreHeath. The Priory belongs to Chrift College, Oxford. Kettering, 15 M. from Daventry, 72 from London, is a handfome Town, of good Trade, pleasantly fituated on a rifing Ground, by a River that runs into the Nen. It has a Seffions-Houfe for the County, a Church handfomely built, with a fine Spire, and a fmall Hospital. Near 2000 Hands are faid to be employed here in the Manufacture of Serges, Shalloons, Tammies, &c. Rothwell, 2 M. from Kettering, 69 from London, is a pretty good Town, noted for a Horfe-Fair. Here is a fine Market House, a fquare Building of Afhler Stone, adorned with the Arms of moft of the Gentry of the County. Rockingham, 83 M. from London, ftands on the River Welland, and has a Castle, first built by William the Conqueror. The Places not yet mentioned, remarkable for Antiquities, are, 1. Within the Demefnes of Broughton, is a petrifying Well, from whence a Skull all over Stone both within and without, was brought to Sidney College in Cambridge, and there preserved. 2. At Cordyke, near Peterborough, is an ancient Fofs, a great Work of the Romans, for draining the Fens and promoting Commerce: Its Dimenfions are very large. 3. Caftor, which feems to have been antiently of great Note from chequered Pavements found there, with Roman Urns, Coins, Bricks and Tiles. 4. At Oxenden, near Kettering, is a remarkable Echo that will repeat 12 or 13 Syllables very diftinctly, and is formed by the fquare Tower of the Church. 5. Near 5. Near Goldsborough, between the Springs of the Avon and Nen was a Roman Camp, whofe Situation was the more remarkable, as it was the only Pafs between the N. and S. Parts of England, not intercepted by any River. The Camp was fecured only by a fingle Intrenchment, but that very broad and deep. 6. Nafeby, 11 M. from Northampton, supposed to stand in the Center, and on the highest Ground in England, remarkable for the bloody Battle fought there betwixt the Forces of K. Charles I, and those of the Parliament. Scarce any Traces of it now remain but a few Holes for the burying of Men and Horfes. It has been faid that, pursuant to his laft Request, Oliver Cromwell was privately interred here. 7. At Culworth, 6 M. from Towcester, and its Neighbourhood, are found the Star-ftones. Among other Mineral Waters are those of Astrop Wells, much recommended for the Scurvy, Afthma, &c. 8. At Chester was a Roman Camp of near 20 Acres, inclofed with a strong Wall, in the Area of which have been found many Pavements, Coins, &c. 9. Fotheringhay Castle, 2 M. from Oundle, on a Branch of the Nen, is encompaffed with a Park and fine Meadows, and was formerly of great Note. 10. The ancient Houfe of Holmby, near Northampton, where King Charles I. was imprisoned. 11. Little Billing Priory. 12. Barnwell Castle, both built by William the Con queror, Seats of the Nobility and Gentry. Duke of Grafton's, at Grafton Regis, 8 M. from Northampton and at Wakefield-Lodge, in Whittlebury-Forest, near Towcester. The late Duke of Montague's, at Boughton, 12 Miles from Northampton, built after a Model of the Palace of Verfailles, with noble Paintings in the Hall, Galleries, &c. and 90 Acres of Gardens adorned with Statues, Marble Urns, Fountains, Averies, Canals, Wilderneffes, Terraces, A fine Cascade and River running thro' Terraces, &c. The Earl of Exeter's, at Burleigh, near Stamford, upon the River Welland. It is one of the grandest Structures in England, and appears more like a Town than a House, in which the Towers and Pinnacles refemble Parish Churches, and the large Spire covered with Lead in the Center, a Cathedral. It is finely adorned with Statues, Painting, &c. and the Gardens are extremely beautiful. The Earl of Northampton's, at Caftle Ashby, 6 M. from Northampton. The Earl of Suffex's, at Eafton-Mauduit, near Wellingborough. The Earl of Cardigan's, at Dean, 18 Miles from Northampton. Lord Sondes's, at Rockingham-Castle. This Structure was originally built by William the Conqueror. Drayton-Houfe, formerly a Castle; now a Seat of Lady Betty Germain. Earl Ferrers, at Aftwell, near Brackley. The Earl of Hallifax's, at Horton, near Northampton. The Earl of Westmoreland's, at Apethrop, near Oundle. The Earl of Dyfert's, at Harrington, near Rothwell. The Earl of Peterborough's, at Drayton, 14 Miles from Northampton. The Earl of Pomfret's, at Eafton. The Hall of this Seat is finely painted in Frefco by Sir James Thornhill; and besides other excellent Painting, here were a vast Number of antique Marble Statues, Bafs-Reliefs, Urns, Altars, &c. being Part of the invaluable Collection of the late Earl of Arundel, now prefented to the Univerfity of Oxford. ton. ton. Althorp, Viscount Spencer's, 4 Miles from Northam¡ Earl of Strafford's, at Boughton 2 M. from Northamp Late Lord Hatton's, at Kirkby, 16 M. from Northampton. The |