ROTHWELL, a parish (formerly a market-town) in
the hundred of ROTHWELL, county of NORTHAMPTON,
19 miles (NN.E.) from Northampton, and 79 (N-wby
N.) from London, containing, with the chapelry of
Orton, and the hamlet of Thorpe-Underwood, 1845
inhabitants. This town is supposed to have been
much more extensive in former days than it is at
present, and to have been surrounded with a wall and
gates; it is situated on the southern side of a rocky
hill. A small priory of nuns of the order of St. Augustine
was founded here, probably by some of the Clare
family; at the dissolution its revenue was estimated at
£ 10. 10. 4. The market, which was considerable, has
fallen into disuse, but one of the largest fairs in the
county for cattle is held on Trinity-Monday: the ancient
market-house, begun by Sir Thomas Tresham, but
left in an unfinished state, is a curious ruin. The living
is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Northampton,
and diocese of Peterborough, rated in the king's
books at £7. 18. 11., endowed with £800 parliamentary
grant, and in the patronage of the Rev. W. Smythe,
and W. T. Smythe, Esq. The church, dedicated to the
Holy Trinity, has an embattled tower at the west end;
the door is a fine specimen of the early style of English
architecture. In a vault beneath is a remarkably curious
collection of sculls and other bones, discovered
about two hundred years ago by some workmen, whilst
examining-the'lower part of the-church. Here are two
springs, one of .a strong petrifying quality, and in the
other are found numerous small bones.