Written by Carly Freestone | 27th July 2018
An interesting but little-known fact is that Northamptonshire has more historic houses than any other county. It may also come as a surprise that the county is as close to London as Berkshire but has much lower property prices, especially at the top end of the market, which make it well worth considering if you’re planning a move out of town.
Country Life magazine describes Northamptonshire as a county ‘of spires and squires and outstanding schools’. Attractive country houses are everywhere and were built using local materials including honey-coloured Lincolnshire limestone and distinctive Collyweston slate for roofs. For country-house devotees, the magnificent houses of Althorp, Boughton and Deene Park are well worth exploring, as are many of the beautiful churches (‘spires’) scattered around the county. The pretty market towns and stone villages are as chocolate-boxy as any in the Cotswolds and many villages meet the triptych of anyone’s rural idyll checklist, boasting a pub, a shop and a church. There are plenty of good public schools to choose from too including Oundle, Oakham, and Uppingham.
Northamptonshire once led the world in shoe and boot making and several companies are still thriving, among them Horace Batten, arguably the finest bespoke riding boot maker in the UK. The award winning musical Kinky Boots tells the story of the town’s shoe making heritage and what better place to see the production than at The Royal & Derngate in Northampton where it starts its National Tour in September? As well as art, the county is serious about sport. Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of eighteen first-class county clubs in England and Wales, The Northampton Saints rugby team is always one to watch in rugby union and Silverstone Circuit is home to the British Grand Prix - 80% of the world’s Formula One cars are built in Northamptonshire. The county is also very horsey: the Pytchley Hunt is one of England’s most famous packs and point-to-points and country shows are highlights of the summer social calendar.
With excellent road links and mainline railway stations in Northampton, Wellingborough and Kettering offering ‘the golden hour’ commute to London, Northamptonshire really is the county to watch.
Are you tempted to make a move to Northamptonshire? Our team at the Michael Graham Northampton office would love to hear from you. Call us on 01604 611011 or see the properties we have avaliable in Northampton and surrounding villages below.