Desborough

History[edit]

Desborough's origins lie in the Bronze Age around 2000 BC. Urns from that period have been found in and around the town.^[2]

Many archaeological finds from the Iron Age and Anglo-Saxon periods have been made in the town some of which, such as the 1st-century Desborough Mirror,^[3][4] and the Anglo-Saxon Desborough Necklace,^[5] are in the collections of the British Museum.^[6]

Domesday Book (1086) refers to Desborough as a "place of judgement". The name itself is thought to have derived from 'Disburg', which meant a sacred and fortified place. In the High Street, as a centrepiece of what is now the Market Square, stands a pillar that is called locally the Town Cross despite being a square column with a stone ball on top. It is thought to have been a gateway pillar from Harrington Hall.

From the 17th century, Desborough developed around the spinning and weaving industries. Using local wool and flax, the town's factories produced fine cloth and linen until the mid 19th century. Silk weaving then developed in a Paddock Lane factory, and shoe making also became important.

The Cross, Desborough

Transport[edit]

Desborough is 5 miles (8 km) south-east of Market Harborough, north-west of Kettering and south-west of Corby.

The A6 Rothwell–Desborough Bypass opened on 14 August 2003.

Between 1857 and 1968, Desborough had a railway station, opened and operated by the Midland Railway, (later the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and, after nationalisation, British Rail), as part of the extension of a line from Leicester to Bedford and Hitchin. It was closed as part of the Beeching cuts.

Religion[edit]

Desbourgh has a parish church (St Giles) along with a Baptist church,^[7] a United Reformed Church,^[8] and the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity.^[9]

St Giles Church is the oldest surviving building in the town, having been built in about 1225. It is believed to stand on the site of an earlier Saxon church. Relics of the town's history include part of an Anglo-Saxon cross carved from stone, a Tudor rood screen, and reminders of the Civil War. Close by the church is the 18th-century Church House with its stucco and Doric pillars, which became Desborough House in the 19th century and is now the Services Club.

On 7 September 1969 the Anglican (Church of England) and Methodist partnership was inaugurated in the presence of the Bishop of Peterborough and the Chairman of the Oxford District.^[10] Since that time a Methodist minister has been working in equal partnership with the Anglican vicar. St Giles is part of the United Benefice of Desborough and Brampton Ash with Braybrooke and Dingley.^[11]

St Giles has regular church festivals including one of the United Kingdom's longest running (since 1998) and largest (over 100 trees) Christmas Tree Festival. The trees are contributed by local organisations, companies, individuals and families.

The Kettering Leg of the annual Student Cross pilgrimage starts near Desborough.