Rothwell

 town, place with historical importance

Rothwell is a Historic market town in the county of Northamptonshire, the town is twinned with a French town of Droué.

It is a small and friendly, historic market town. Its name reflects the large number of springs still to be found in the town, rising through the 'rot' (red) ironstone, some of which were once sought for their healing powers.

A fascinating mix of listed buildings and monuments can be seen, also some excellent, award winning specialist shops.

During the Middle Ages, Rothwell became second most important town county-wide after Northampton, boasting a town wall, gates, a nunnery and a prestigious church. The Nunnery is thought to stand near the site of a Medieval Priory which was founded in 1247 by Richard Clare, Earl of Gloucester.

The impressive and beautiful parish church of Holy Trinity dates from the fourteenth century and houses a remarkable collection of the skulls and thigh bones of some 1500 medieval people.

The traditions of the annual Fair and weekly market (Mondays), granted by various royal charters, still hold strong. The annual Fair is traditionally proclaimed on the Monday following Trinity Sunday by the bailiff of the Lord of the Manor, who sets off on horseback at six o'clock in the morning from the parish church and proceeds around the town reading the charter, accompanied by a guard of halberdiers and a brass band, who all enjoy the customary rum and milk outside every public house which then remain open for trade.