KETTERING, a market-town and parish in the
hundred of HUXLOE, county of NORTHAMPTON, 15
miles (N. E. by N.) from Northampton, and 75 (N. W.)
from London, on the high road from London to Leeds,
containing 3668 inhabitants. The Saxon name of
this town was Cytringham, the etymology of which is
uncertain. At the Norman survey the manor and
church belonged.to the abbey of Burgh, or Peterborough,
and continued in the possession of that house until
the dissolution. The town, which is but indifferently
built, is situated on the declivity of a hill, at the foot of
which flows a small stream, that joins the Ice brook,
a branch of the river Nen. The market-place is a spacious
area, surrounded by good private houses and
respectable shops. A reading-society, or book-club, has
been established for half a century; and another has
recently been formed, for the middling and lower classes
of the inhabitants. The manufacture of shoes has been
carried on formany years, affording employment to a considerable
number of persons: wool stapling and combing,
and the spinning of worsted yarn, are extensively pursued;
the weaving of silk shag for hats has been
recently introduced, and a few persons are employed,
in the weaving of ribands and Persians: there are also
two brush manufactories. The market is on Friday 5
and fairs are held on the Thursday before Easter, Friday
before Whit-Sunday, Thursday before Old Michaelmasday,
and the Thursday before the festival of St. Thomas.
Courts leet and baron are held annually for the appointment
of constables and other officers; and the petty sessions
for Kettering division are holden usually once a fortnight.
The living is a discharged rectory, in the arch-,
deaconry of Northampton, and diocese of Peterborough,
rated in the king's books at £34. 13. 4., endowed with
£200 private benefaction, and £200 royal bounty, and
in the patronage of Lord Sondes. The church, -which is
dedicated to St. Peter, is a handsome edifice in the later
style of English architecture, with a fine tower at the
west end, having double buttresses, and octagonal turrets
at the angles, and surmounted by an octagonal
crocketed spire; round the base of the spire, and connected
with the angular turrets, is an embattled parapet,
enclosing a walk which commands an extensive and
beautiful prospect. There are places of worship for
Baptists, the Society of Friends, Independents, and
Wesleyan Methodists. A free grammar school for
poor children of this parish is endowed with land
producing about £ 120 per annum, the benefaction of a
person unknown. There is likewise a small charity
school for girls; and a National school is supported
by voluntary contributions. An hospital for six poor
widows was founded by Mr. Sawyer, in 1688, and
subsequent! endowed by Martha Baker and others.
Mrs. Rachael Sawyer bequeathed £100, directing the
interest to be applied in apprenticing poor children;
and there are several other bequests for charitable purposes.
In 1726, several coins were discovered here of
Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Constantine, and other Roman
emperors; also of Carausius, who assumed the purple in
Britain; together with a brass seal having the figure of
St. Michael engraved on it, and other antique remains.
Dr. John Gill, an eminent oriental and biblical scholar,
was born here in 1697.