HIGHAM-FERRERS, a parish and borough (formerly a market-town), possessing
separate jurisdiction, though
locally in the hundred of Higham-Ferrers, county of
NORTHAMPTON, 15 miles
(E.N.E.) from Northampton,
and 65 (N.N.W.) from London,
containing 877 inhabitants.
The town derives its distinguishing appellation
from the ancient family of Ferrers, who were its lords,
and had a castle here. The name Higham is said to be
a contraction of High-ham, denoting the elevated situation
of the place, which stands on a rocky eminence
abounding with springs, about half a mile from the
north-eastern bank of the navigable river Nen, and
consists chiefly of two streets, with a market-place, in
which stands a cross; its elevated site rendering it
clean and healthy. It is supposed to have been formerly
much larger than it now is, having possessed, at
one period, three weekly markets, not one of which, for
the last thirty years, has been held. The chief business
consists in making boots, shoes, and bobbin-lace.
There are five annual fairs, viz., on March 7th, June
28th, the Thursday before August 5th, October llth,
and December 6th.
The town was first incorporated in the 2d and 3rd
of Philip and Mary, and its privileges were confirmed
by a charter granted in the 36th of Charles II., under
which the corporation consists of a mayor, recorder,
deputy recorder, seven aldermen, and thirteen capital
burgesses; the aldermen are chosen from among the burgesses,
and the mayor is elected annually from among
the aldermen. The mayor is lord of a manor called
Borough-hold, extending from Stump-cross northward,
to Spittle-cross southward: he holds a court leet annually
before the expiration of the term of his office;
and he and his predecessor are justices of the peace.
There is a court of record, for the recovery of debts
under £40, called the "Three Weeks court," from the
period of its recurrence; but it is now held, and that
only for the sake of form, once a year, three weeks after
the election of the mayor, when the constables are sworn
in. The town-hall was erected by the corporation. in
1812, near the site of a prior one, which had fallen into
decay. This borough has sent a representative to parliament
since the third year of Philip and Mary; the
right of election is vested in the body corporate and the
resident freemen of the borough, the freedom of which
is inherited bybirth, and acquired by servitude, or gift
from the corporation. The number of voters is about
forty, and the mayor is the returning officer: the patronage
of the borough is possessed by Earl Fitzwilliam.
The living is a vicarage not in charge, with the
perpetual curacy of Chelveston, in the archdeaconry %f
Northampton, and diocese of Peterborough, and in the
patronage of Earl Fitzwilliam. The church, dedicated
to the Virgin Mary, is a handsome building, displaying
the various styles of. English architecture: it consists
of two naves, with north and south aisles, and a chancel
separated by a decorated screen 5 on each side of the
chancel are stalls, with curious emblematical devices:
at the west end is a porch, much ornamented with sculpture,
also an embattled tower, from which rises a finelyproportioned
octagonal crocketed spire; the latter having
fallen down, with part of the tower, was rebuilt in
1632, by subscription, to which Archbishop Laud was a
liberal contributor: the church contains some ancient
monuments and sepulchral brasses. There is a place
of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. A free grammar
school has long existed here; it was founded by Archbishop
Ghichele, in 1420, who left .an endowment of
about £10 a year, to which Earl Fitzwilliam adds £10
more, as a salary for the master, but the school has of
late, years fallen into decay: the appointment of .the
master is vested in the corporation. The school-house
is a handsome stone building, situated at the north-west
end of the church, and having an embattled parape
An almshouse, or bead-house, on the south side of the
church, was also founded and endowed by Archbishop
Chichele, for twelve poor men and one woman: the tenements
are now occupied by men and women, each of
whom receives sevenpence a week, and an annual allowance
of ten shillings, for what was originally termed
" shaving and lamp money." Some remains of an
ancient college are still discernible, but in a ruinous
state: a portion of them was a few years ago converted
into a dwelling-house. On the north side of the. church
is a spot called Castle-yard, the site of an ancient castle <,
some parts of the moat, and a few traces of the foundations,
are remaining. Archbishop Chichele, a great
patron of literature in the reign of Henry V., was born
here in 1362.