OUNDLE, a market-town and parish, in the hundred
of POLEBROOK, county of NORTHAMPTON, 30 miles
(N.E.) from Northampton, and 77 (N. by W.) from London,
containing, with the chapelry of Ashton, and the
hamlets of Biggin, Churchfield, and Elmington, 2279 inhabitants.
A monastery was established here before the
year 711, when Wilfrid, Archbishop of York, died in it:
by some it is thought to have been founded by that
primate, whilst others consider it to have been a cell to
the abbey of Peterborough, and part of'its possessions.
The town is situated on a gentle declivity on the northern
bank of the river Nene, by which it is nearly surrounded,
and over which are two bridges, leading respectively to
the Thrapston and Peterborough roads; North bridge
is remarkable for its length and the number of its arches,
which support an elevated causeway. The streets are
well paved and lighted, and, in consequence of recent
improvements made under the provisions of a local
act of parliament, the general appearance of the town
has been entirely modernised; two or three houses yet
remain, which were built with the stones of Fotberinghay
castle. Several of the inhabitants are employed in
making bobbin-lace. The market is on Thursday; and
fairs are held on February 25th, Whit-Monday, and
August 21st, for horses, cattle, and sheep, and on
October 12th, for cheese, cattle, &c.: a commodious
market-house and shambles have been recently erected.
Manorial courts leet and baron, and a court for the
hundred, are held annually; a court is likewise held for
the rectorial manor of Oundle, once in two or three
years. The petty sessions for the division take place
here once a fortnight. A court for the recovery of
debts under 405. was attached to the hundred court,
but it has been disused for several years.
The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry
of Northampton, and diocese of Peterborough,
rated in the king's books at £ 13. 6. 8., and
in the patronage of the Crown. The church, which
is dedicated to St. Peter, is a spacious and very handsome
cruciform structure, combining the different
styles of English architecture, with a lofty tower, terminated
at the angles by octagonal turrets, and surmounted
by an hexagonal crocketed spire, erected in
1634; in the chaucel are some rich stalls, good screenwork,
and a portion of ancient stained glass. There are
places of worship for Baptists, Independents, and Wesleyan
Methodists. The free grammar school was founded,
in 1556, by Sir William Laxton, a native of this'town,
and lord mayor of London in 1544, the amount of endowment
is about £400 per annum, and the management
is vested in the Master and Wardens of the Grocers
Company, who appoint the master, with a stipend
of £40 per annum, for himself and usher, and a gratuity
of £60: the school is open to boys of the town for
free instruction. A school, for the education of thirty
poor men's sons, was built and endowed, in 1620, by
the Rev. Nicholas Latham, with £10 per annum, for a
master to teach reading and writing; the master at present
receives a salary of £20 per annum, with a house
for his residence, and the writing-master about £16.
A Blue-ooat school is supported by voluntary contributions.
An almshouse, founded and endowed by Sir
"William Laxton, for seven poor men, is also under the
superintendence of the Grocers' Company. An hospital
for sixteen poor women, who must each exceed the age
of fifty years, with two nurses for the sick, and a weekly
allowance to each inmate, was also foxmded by the
Rev. N. Latham. There are two contingent exhibitions
to the University of Cambridge, of £4 per annum each,
for poor scholars of the parishes of Oundle, Glapthorne,
Cotterstock, and Tansor. In the vicinity of
this town are some chalybeate springs.