WELLINGBOROUGH, (Northamptonshire) 4 m. W. of the r. Nen, or Avon, 7 m. N. E. from Northampton, 52 cm. 65 mm. from London, had the name of Wellingborough-Forum, from its Mt. and from the many wells, or springs, in and about the T. some of which are medicinal; and Q. Mary, wife to K. Charles I. lay many weeks here to drink them. This T. was destroyed by the Danes; but it recovered, and K. John made it a Mt.-T. at the petition of the monks of Crowland, who were then possessed of the manor. A dreadful fire, in July 1738, consumed above 800 of its dwelling-houses, out houses, &c. in six hours time, so that very few saved their goods, but their houses are since rebuilt more beautifully. They are of a kind of red stone, and their foundation is chiefly on a red stone rock. As the T. stands in an open corn country, its greatest trade is in corn, for which its Mt. on W. is mightily improved, by the decay of that of Higham Ferrers, at 4 m. distance. It has also a considerable mf. of lace, which, 'tis said, returns 50 l. a week into the T. one with another, and is therefore reckoned the 2d T. in the Co. Here is a handsome Ch. and a ch. sc. for forty children, who are maintained, cloathed, and taught to read, write, and work. The Fairs are on Easter-T. and Oct. 18. 'Tis said same part of the T. bel. formerly to the duchy of Lancaster, but that afterwards the whole bel. to Sir Will. Hatton.