Is Oundle getting the royal nod?
With rumours Prince George might go to school in Northamptonshire, here’s all you need to know about this pretty market town
There was a surprise new contender for Prince George’s secondary school destination this month, in the form of Oundle public school. This co-ed boarding school dates back to the 16th century and sits in the middle of Oundle, a market town in Northamptonshire.
Whether the prince goes there or not, the spotlight will help put Oundle on the map. It’s somewhere I know very well, as like my previous travel story on nearby Stamford, Lincolnshire, Oundle is close to where I grew up and somewhere my family used to visit often, to go boating along the River Nene, from Oundle Marina.
Situated just south-west of Peterborough, Oundle is around 70 miles north of London, fairly square in the middle of England, so it’s easy to get to for a weekend away. It’s also within easy reach of Cambridge, so you could combine the two, if visiting.
Oundle is a small market town, with a population of around 6,500 people and it’s super-easy to walk around and enjoy its many cafes, restaurants and traditional pubs. It’s very pretty – the town centre is full of Georgian buildings and it is packed with history. The Crown filmed some of its final season here, recently.
Mentioned in the Domesday Book, Oundle was originally owned by Peterborough Abbey and its church part of a monastery. In the 16th century, English poet John Leyland wrote Oundle was built of stone, with a “very good market” and over the following three centuries it continued to expand, with its beautiful stone architecture.
Oundle is also famous for nearby Fotheringhay Castle, where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned and executed in 1587. Nothing remains of the castle now, except a mound – much to my teenage self’s disappointment - as it was sold off and subsequently, dismantled. Many of its stones were used in The Talbot Hotel, which claims its 16th century staircase came from the castle, bringing with it the ghost of the queen, who is said to haunt the hotel.
There’s a free museum, open between March and October, plus an nice heritage walking trail you can follow around the town. Make sure to go down to the lovely Nene river, where you can walk The Nene Way or canoe or SUP from Nene Extreme.
As well as The Talbot Hotel, there’s The Ship Inn and many B&Bs and holiday cottages in the town, or one of my family’s favourite’s, The Haycock Manor Hotel in nearby Wansford – also worth a walk around.
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