Raunds
| Raunds | |
|---|---|
| Population | Expression error: "8,275 (2001)" must be numeric |
| OS grid reference | SP9972 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WELLINGBOROUGH |
| Postcode district | NN9 |
| Dialling code | 01933 |
| Police | Northamptonshire |
| Fire | Northamptonshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Raunds is a small market town with civil parish status situated in rural Northamptonshire, England. It has a population of 8,275 (2001 census) and is part of the East Northamptonshire district.
Pronunciation
The name of the town is pronounced as "Raawwnds". It is phonetically pronounced raw-nds. It is similar to the first part of the word 'laundry', laund-ry, or like the word 'lawn'.
Geography
Raunds is approximately 15 miles to the north-east of Northampton. The town is located on the edge of the Nene valley, and surrounded on all sides by arable farming land.
Raunds is quite close to Stanwick Lakes [1], which is a country park developed from old gravel pits and managed by the Rockingham Forest Trust. This park is internationally recognised for its birdlife, and can be reached on foot, from Raunds, by walking along Meadows Lane bridleway.
Raunds has two primary schools (Windmill and St. Peters) and one secondary school (Manor School and Sports College). Manor school is currently undertaking a project that will construct a new all-weather sports pitch.
History
In the mid-1980s, during major sand excavations in the nearby Nene valley, the remains of a Roman villa were discovered. Excavation of the area, near Stanwick, Northamptonshire, was delayed by several years while archaeologists studied the remains. In 2003 Channel 4's Time Team carried out excavations in the garden of a local person, and found remains of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery [2].
St Peter's Church in Raunds, believed to have been built in the 15th century, has the second tallest spire in Northamptonshire at 202 feet (61.5 m). The church stands on the site of an earlier Saxon place of worship. At a point during the 15th century the patronage of the church is known to have been changed from that of St Mary to St Peter. The church also features a rare 'left-handed fiddler' decoration above the western entrance. A tombchest dedicated to John Wales, vicar from 1447 to 1496, proves that the building has been in use for more than five hundred-and-fifty years.
Raunds was known as the home of the army boot, and played an important role in the local boot and shoe industry until its eventual decline in the 1950s and 60s. In 1905, a dispute arose about the wages to be paid to army bootmakers, which culminated in a march to London in May of that year[3]. Several factories remained in operation into the 1980s and early 1990s but most are now closed. Several of the buildings were demolished and new housing estates were added. There is little in the way of industry in the town these days. However, on the outskirts of town there are some industrial sites.
Raunds held the record for the highest temperature recorded in Britain at 36.7 degrees Celsius. This was recently beaten in 2003 where Brogdale topped 38.5 degrees.
Transport
- Road
Raunds is adjacent to the A45 and quite close to the A14. Access to the M1 and A1 is fairly close also, and the A14 runs into the M6. Consequently the area attracts distribution companies, and there are many warehouses.
- Bus
Bus services are not great in the area, although Raunds does have some. The X46 links the town with Wellingborough and Northampton, and is the main service, running daily at about hourly intervals. There are intermittent routes connecting to Huntingdon and a local service termed the 'Raunds Rover'.
- Rail
Connections are provided by East Midlands Trains from Wellingborough, and Kettering is also quite near. Although these stations are further away it can sometimes be appropriate to travel to Bedford, Northampton or Peterborough to access specific services.
There was a Raunds railway station many years ago, on the cross-country Midland Railway line between Kettering and Cambridge, situated 1½ miles from the actual town. This closed in 1959. It was also originally planned that the Wellingborough-Higham Ferrers branch would continue to Raunds, but landowner objections prevented it.
- Waterways
Stanwick Lakes are within walking or cycling distance of Raunds, and there are some river ways that connect to the Nene Valley river section. By boat, Oundle can be reached in a day. The Nene Valley river section connects to the Middle Level Navigation System, making it possible to reach Cambridge and Peterborough. The nearest marina is Willy Watt's in Ringstead, Northamptonshire.
Trade and Commerce
Historically Raunds' major commercial activity was boot making, and it was known as the home of the army boot. However, no boot factories are left now.
Today, Raunds is home to the manufacturing plant of RPC Containers, a large Hotpoint distribution centre, and depots for Robert Wiseman Dairies and Avery Dennison have been established. Recently a large new warehouse has been built and is currently awaiting occupants.
The Raunds Co-operative Society ran a supermarket and department store in the town, and had over 4,000 members, until 2007 when it merged with the much larger Midlands Co-operative Society. The shops are still in operation.
In accordance with the market town status, a market is held on Fridays. Regular stalls include butchers, plant stockists and confectioners. Local organisations and clubs are also able to set up a stall, with permission from the Town Council.
Culture
Raunds holds an annual music festival which becomes more popular every year. Raunds Music Festival Website
Raunds Music and Drama Society (MADS) is based in the town, and stage a variety of performances through the year.
The town also holds a very popular christmas festival, which is held in the centre of Raunds, on the square. Continental markets are also held annually to celebrate the cultures and cuisines of neighbouring countries.
Sport
- Football
Raunds Town FC are based at Kiln Park, and play in the Eagle Bitter United Counties Football League. As well as the first team, they also have reserve, ladies and youth teams.
Raunds Tigers FC are also based in the town. They focus on junior soccer and have several youth teams.
- Cricket
Raunds Town Cricket Club have a ground in Marshalls Road. The team plays in the Northamptonshire League.
- Archery
Archers of Raunds meet at Manor school.
Mayors of Raunds
In the year 2005, the Raunds Town Council decided to (instead of having a chairman of the council) pick a Mayor/Mayoress to run the town. Holders of the position since that time have been:
- 2005-2006: Mrs Lisa Costello
- 2006-2007: Mr Dudley Hughes
- 2007-2008: Mrs Michelle Goring
- 2008-2009: Mr Peter Waften
Nearby settlements
Ringstead, Keyston, Stanwick, Rushden, Higham Ferrers, Thrapston, Hargrave, Wellingborough, Irthlingborough, Chelveston.
References
Sources
- Hall, David; Raunds: Picturing the past (F.W. March, 1988) ISBN 0-9509908-3-3
External links
- Raunds War Memorials Research Has interesting Raunds facts.
- RPC Containers
- Raunds Methodist Church
- MyBritishRoots A List of Headstone inscriptions in St Peters Churchyard.
- Raunds Temperance Band