History

A Brief History

 Somewhat surprisingly, it is said that at the time of the Domesday Book, in 1086, Finedon (sic) was one of only four settlements in Northamptonshire listed with a population greater than ‘fifty souls’ the others being Northampton, Brackley and perhaps equally surprisingly Rushton. Finedon then called Tingdene was a large royal manor.

The name of Finedon has changed several times over the centuries. The settlement was originally noted as Tingdene and subsequently Thingdene in the 11th century, changing to Thyngden and Tynden during the 13th century; Thynden in the 14th century and Thingdon by the 16th century. The village’s current name Finedon was coined some time during the 18th century and appears to have become cemented at last.

 During the reign of Edward, the Confessor (1042-1066) Queen Edith held the great soke of Finedon, which consisted of 27 hides of land. A ‘hide’, taken from the Anglo-Saxon word meaning “family”, was, in the early medieval period, a land-holding that was considered sufficient to support a family (approximately 30 modern acres) although much depended on the quality of the land. By 1086 only nine and a half hides represented the Manor of Finedon, although there is a contradictory record that states that in the 12th century, the king held ten hides there.

 The manor remained under the crown until King John granted it for life in 1200 to one Stephen de Clay, although by 1218 it had been transferred and divided through several hands to William Longsword, Earl of Salisbury. From then on, the manor seemed to be the subject of betrothal dowries, or acquired as lands for nobles and of course inheritance settlements, before finally being purchased by the Mulsho (sic) family, who finally managed to amalgamate the manor once again by 1405 into one entity.

 By then, the men of Finedon had successfully claimed (in 1388) that the land be recognised as ‘ancient demesne’ (recorded in the Domesday Book) and so no longer under toll and the land appears then to have become tenanted to local farmers.

 After several generations of Mulsho male ownership, the manor finally passed into the hands of two Mulsho daughters, Ann and Elizabeth who subsequently married two brothers, Gilbert and John Dolben, sons of the then incumbent Archbishop of York.

 Gilbert Dolben was created a baronet in 1704 and having bought his brother’s share, he and his subsequent heirs became ‘lords of the manor’ until the demise of Sir John English Dolben in 1837. His daughter Frances, who had become the wife of William Mackworth, inherited the manor and somewhat confusingly took the name Dolben.

 Frances died in 1892, the last owner of the manor of Finedon being her daughter Ellen Mackworth-Dolben. Upon her death in 1912 the whole estate was divided up and sold in separate portions.

 At the most recent 2011 census the town had 4,309 people living here.

 Understanding Finedon’s Street Names.

 As in most settlements, the roads in and out are often named after the adjoining towns or villages that the routes connect with; in Finedon, the four major roads being Wellingborough, Irthlingborough, Thrapston and Burton (Latimer) roads. 

 As towns develop and more roads are constructed, they need to be given names with which to identify the addresses of those dwelling there. Once again, some are typically identified by the town’s features such as churches, schools, hills, bridges and stations.

 We list here the Streets and Closes in Finedon and try to explain why they are named thus. Sometimes there might be conflicting explanations. Where this is so, both descriptors are given. For reference, they are listed in alphabetical order and the list will be added to periodically.

 Affleck Bridge: Affleck Bridge spans a stream, now culverted, and runs between the High Street and Dolben Square at the junctions of Regent Street, Well Street and Laws Lane. It is named after one James Affleck M.A. the son of Gilbert Affleck and Anne Dolben. James was vicar of Finedon between 1757-1784 and had two sons who also succeeded to the Affleck baronetcy. His granddaughter Harriet Elizabeth was the mother of Robert Seymour Bridges who was England’s Poet Laureate (1913-1930) and who championed the work of Finedon’s most celebrated poet Digby Mackworth Dolben, who tragically drowned whilst still a young man.

Albert Road: Albert Road is named after Queen Victoria’s husband and consort Prince Albert but does not, as commonly thought, commemorate his death in 1861 as the road was constructed many years after this.

Alexandra Court: Also Regents Mews. Built in 2009 on the site of the former Alexandra Terrace, a group of ten houses, built in 1880 and demolished in 1959 commemorating the then Princess of Wales.

Alington Close: Alington Close, built c1976, is situated on the site of the now demolished Obelisk House. The Close is named after the Reverend William Alington who was responsible for building several local properties, notably the stone houses in Little Burton, The Round House on Thrapston Road and the old Co-operative Society’s drapery shop (currently being used as a funeral service proprietor).

Allen Road (including Allen Court): Allen Road which runs east from Irthlingborough Road was constructed circa 1890 although most of the houses built along it date from the 1930’s. Strangely, the actual origin of the name remains a mystery. However, the much newer Allen Court is built on the former site of the now demolished Allen Road Working Men’s Club, a much-loved local establishment, which in its day was an important sports and social club in the county.

 Avenue Road (including Avenue Close): These two references to an avenue refer to the grand Eastern Avenue, which at one time stretched from Finedon Hall all the way through to Burton Rd. The land owned by Sir William Dolben also became part of the current Dolben Cricket ground.

 Bell Hill: Bell Hill was constructed in 1806 around the time of the imposition of the Government’s Enclosures Act. Recommended by its commissioners, it takes its name from The Bell Inn, a local landmark which was already in situ at that time.

Berry Green Road: (also Berry Green Terrace). Berry Green Road was originally known as Berry Green Lane in 1739. Bordering a triangle of land between Avenue Road and Tenter Lane, which was known as the Berry or Bury Green; it may owe its name to an ancient burial ground or prehistoric ‘barrow’ once situated there.

Burton Road: Burton Road, now named as one of the five main arterial exits from the town, which leads to Burton Latimer, was originally called Sallows Way after the proximity of small willow trees. This was supplanted to Gallows Way, being the site of the town’s gibbet or hanging place.

 Dolben Square: Dolben Square, lying at the foot of Laws Lane, is first recorded in 1841 and is named (as are several Finedon locations) after the surname of the then Lords of the Manor. It was once the location of a large spring-fed pond and a public pump situated on the southern side, adjacent to ancient stones (one of which is still in situ, now protected behind iron railings) that are thought to be old boundary/track markers.

Once, being closer to the centre of the town’s comings-and-goings, Dolben Square has long been something of a meeting place, the town’s first, temporary War Memorial having been erected there and much later, the final destination for the annual carnival torchlight parade.

 Freeman Way: Freeman Way was named after Councillor Charles Freeman who represented Finedon on Wellingborough District Council for many years. He was appointed its Chairman in 1959.

 Hawthorne Road: Hawthorne road was built by Finedon Urban District Council between the wars and is named after borough and county councillor Mr J T Hawthorne, whom in addition to his civic duties was also chairman of the Finedon Dolben Cricket Club for an impressive sixty years!

Hayden Avenue: Hayden Avenue is derived from the fact that the original land had a specific rise to it, when compared to the rest of Finedon. A ‘hade’ or high headland, is an old geological term where mineral deposits push up to the surface.

 Highfield Road: Highfield Road links Allen Road to Hayden Avenue and as the name suggests, describes the same physical feature described in Hayden Avenue.

 High Street: The High Street, running from the A6 near Banks Park to Mulso Square, adjoining Affleck Bridge was once the main street through Finedon. Originally named North East Street, it was renamed in 1900. During the 1930’s there were in excess of forty commercial businesses operating in High Street, such as Gate Inn, Masons Arms, The Post Office and the Conservative Club. It was said that the only service that could not be obtained in the High street at that time was that of a solicitor.

Irthlingborough Rd: This might seem obvious, being one of the main arteries out of the town but as it is the A6, it was once known as London Rd. The A6 is one of the main historic north–south roads in England, running from Luton in Bedfordshire to Carlisle in Cumbria, although it formerly started at a junction with the A1 at Barnet. It is the fourth longest numbered road in Britain; only the A1, A38 and A30 are longer.

Ivy Lane: Ivy Lane,was until circa 1900, known as Malting Lane. A malt house, malt barn, or malting, is a building where cereal grain was converted into malt by soaking it in water, allowing it to sprout and then drying it to stop further growth. The malt being used in brewing beer,so the Lane might have been close to a barn used for this purpose. The reason for its current name, Ivy Lane is unknown.

Mackworth Green: (also Mackworth Drive) Mackworth Green was once also known as ‘Barrack Yard’ and was converted from farm buildings c1840 by the owners, the prominent Mackworth Dolben family. Having fallen into disrepair over time they were earmarked for demolition but luckily saved and eventually restored in 1975.

 Mason’s Yard: Mason’s Yard was converted as recently as 2010, and incorporates the old Mason’s Arms public house which was established c1830. The pub was locally known as Tupeney’s, commemorating a well-known previous landlord around the turn of the century. The Mason’s Arms closed in the 1950’s.

Milner Road: Named after the nationally famous Lord Milner 1854-1925, one of the roads standing on the site of the quarry excavated by Walter Neilson c1900.

Millers Close: Named after the person to whom the land was allocated after the Enclosure Act. Later the land was owned at one time by Finedon Industrial Co-operative Society, locals of that time still referred to the land as ‘Stores Field’.

Mulso Road: One of the many references in the town to previous Lords of the Manor. Built on land sold by Mrs Mackworth Dolben who died in 1892, known as Obelisk Field.

Mulso Square: Mulso Square is perhaps the most ill-defined part of Finedon and occupies the piece of land between the High Street and Affleck Bridge. It is named after the site of the original Mulso Arms public house, which stood on the south-east corner, until its closure in the 1920’s, the license being transferred to the ‘new’ Mulso on the corner of Ivy Lane and Wellingborough Road. Mulso Square being a natural meeting place for locals, was the site of the infamous ‘Captain Swing’ riot of 1830. The Swing Riots were a widespread uprising in 1830 by agricultural workers in southern and eastern England, in protest at agricultural mechanisation and harsh working conditions. It began with the destruction of threshing machines in the Elham Valley area of East Kent in the summer of 1830, and by early December had spread through the whole of southern England and East Anglia.

Obelisk Road: Also built on land known as Obelisk Field (see Mulso Rd), as late as the 1950s some older residents still referred to it as New Street! On an old map dated c1884, a footpath was marked through the land that eventually became Obelisk Rd.

 Orchard Rd: Orchard Road was originally the site of extensive orchards which once covered a large area of land in this vicinity. Much of the fruit grown there was used in the production of Finedon’s famous ‘dried apples’. The primitive track that preceded the current road was originally known as Back Lane to locals and was the main access to the yards of farms situated on the High St.

Orchard Terrace: Orchard Terrace links the High Street to Orchard Road was always known colloquially as ‘Tite’s Yard’. Originally a row of fourteen cottages, dating circa 1876, they were built on the site of a farm. The cottages were demolished in 1959 and replaced by four bungalows.

Sibley Road: Sibley Road is named after John Sibley, head of a well-established Finedon family. Following the gradual application of the Inclosure Act, (or Enclosure Act) which eventually arrived in Finedon between 1804-1808, the area of land upon which Sibley Road is situated was granted to Sibley as landowner. Attached is an excerpt of a popular poem of the time, which records the sentiment of the peasantry.

“They hang the man and flog the woman/Who steals the goose from off the common/Yet let the greater villain loose/That steals the common from the goose/The law demands that we atone/When we take things we do not own/But leaves the lords and ladies fine/Who take things that are yours and mine”.

 Summerlee Road: Summerlee Road is named after the Summerlee Iron Works of Coatbridge in Scotland, founded by James Beaumont Neilson, whose son Walter, both lived and operated a mining operation in Fiendon and the surrounding areas. Summerlee, was one of the first iron works built using the revolutionary ‘hot blast’ method of making iron which transformed the iron industry. Summerlee Road is one of the roads comprising the locally termed Neilson Estate. Walter Neilson also built Townside Farm which stands on the end of Summerlee Road.

Tann Road: Tann Road is named after a well-known family building company, established in 1938 by R.C. (Ron) Tann, who built many houses in Finedon. The Company, now being managed by its third generation is now based in Rushden.

 Tenter Lane: Tenter Lane is thought to have been the location of the ‘tenter yard and home to the wooden ‘tenter frames’, upon which newly produced woollen cloth (and later leather hides) were stretched and dried. Tenters date from the 14th century and the hooked nails called ‘tenterhooks’ have become a metaphor for anxiously waiting for something to happen.

It has also been suggested that the tenter frames may have occasionally been located in the nearby ‘tainty field’, which lies adjacent to Tenter Lane.

 Tower Close: Tower Close is clearly a reflection of the fact that it was built almost in the shadow of the Finedon Water Tower, itself erected in 1904. The tower, now a private dwelling, was built to supply water, previously supplied by the town’s wells. It has been suggested (whether still the case or not) that on a very clear day it is possible to see the top of the spire of Peterborough Cathedral from the ramparts of the water tower.

Union Street: Union Street lies on land once owned by the Northamptonshire Union Bank. Created in 1836, the bank owned by John and Samuel Percival, grew by acquisition and had branches in Northampton, Wellingborough, Daventry, Oundle and Thrapston. It subsequently became a constituent of The National Westminster Bank (NatWest).

 Walker’s Way: Walker’s Way, which connects Wellingborough Road with Well Street is built on the site of a once imposing property known as Whitlark’s (also known locally as Well House) which was demolished in 1956. The development is named after John Charles Walker, a threshing machine proprietor who was the last occupant of Whitlark’s.

Waterlow Bridge: Waterlow Bridge, as one would expect is the closest location where the High street and Well Street converge, being a bridging point across the stream that once flowed through the town (now culverted). The Bridge was originally known as Dough Bridge, presumably taken from the nearby bakehouse, the name Waterlow coming into existence in 1843.

 More Street names will be added soon.