Northamptonshire Tourist Guide - Articles
Northamptonshire USA Connections
A warm welcome awaits USA visitors to Northamptonshire!
In fact, the strong bond that exists between the American and British people and our mutual heritage is arguably nowhere more evident in the UK than in the culturally-rich county of Northamptonshire.
Northamptonshire USA connections abound, from the countless emigrants in centuries past who left Northamptonshire in search of pastures new across the pond, to more recent times when the United States 8th Air Force operated from no less than seven airfields in Northamptonshire (between 1942 and 1945). In addition, today’s high density of both USA and UK air bases located in Northamptonshire means that our modern day lives have indeed become inextricably intertwined.
Exploring Northamptonshire USA Connections
USA guests with limited time at their disposal may wish to concentrate their efforts on just a few of the many and varied USA-UK connections dotted throughout Northamptonshire. Suggestions include:
Althorp House, the ancestral home of the Spencer family for over five hundred years is situated approximately seven miles west of Northampton. Visit Princess Diana’s grave; take in the award winning exhibition, ‘Diana: A Celebration’. Princess Diana had American ancestry on her mother's side; her great-grandmother was the New York heiress Frances Work. Althorp House is open to the public, 11am to 5 pm daily, from 1st July to 30th August.
Grafton Underwood (Airfield): Located just to the north of the pretty village of Grafton, four miles north east of Kettering, American guests with a military connection will be fascinated by Grafton Underwood Airfield. This airfield was one of the most strategically important USAAF bases, during World War II. Not only was Grafton Underwood the first Station in England to receive an Eighth Air Force Flying Unit (May 12, 1942), it was also the first base to launch a USAAF heavy bomber operation to Rouen (August 17, 1942). A memorial to the American 8th Air Force is also located at Grafton Underwood.
Carpetbagger Aviation Museum: The Carpetbagger Aviation Museum was established in 1993 at Harrington Airfield to commemorate the 50th Anniversary reunion of the USAAF's 801st /492nd Bomb Group known as The Carpetbaggers. The Carpetbagger Aviation Museum takes visitors on an evocative journey back in time to when the 801st (Provisional) / 492nd Bomb Group engaged in a secret mission to transport agents and vital supplies to resistance groups in occupied Europe, during World War II. The Carpetbagger Aviation Museum is situated on the administration site of the former WW2 Airfield, Harrington; website: www.harringtonmuseum.org.uk.
Rockingham Speedway: Experience motor sport American-style at Rockingham Speedway. Famous for being the fastest oval track in the UK, Rockingham Speedway is located on a three hundred acre ‘brownfield’ site just north of Corby. Rockingham Motor Speedway, Mitchell Road, Corby, was set up originally as a test track for British-built American racing cars. It soon expanded to become one of Northamptonshire’s most popular speedways and motor sports venues. For more information visit the website: www.rockingham.co.uk.
Northamptonshire Villages and Towns with Strong American Links
Flore: The picturesque and historic Northamptonshire village of Flore was the original home of the Adams family. Thomas Adams, the great grandfather of John Adams, the second President of the USA, lived here. Thomas Adams founded a Quaker Meeting House in Flore.
Lamport: President Thomas Jefferson was related to the Isham family of Lamport Hall, an imposing Tudor Manor, with a classical frontage, open to the public from April to October (Sundays only) and throughout August, (Sunday to Friday). Lamport Hall is worth a visit in itself for its impressive array of period furniture, as well as its unique collection of books, paintings and portraits including those of Van Dyck and Kneller, collected by the Isham family, over the years. An added bonus is that Henry Isham was related to Thomas Jefferson!
Ecton: Benjamin Franklin’s ancestors came from the delightful village of Ecton, situated midway between Northampton and Wellingborough. Several of the Franklin family graves can be found at Ecton village Parish Church. A visit to the village pub called ‘The Three Horseshoes’ is also a must to view the exact spot where Benjamin Franklin’s uncle’s smithy once stood.
Did you know that …
Charles Chauncy, one of the Founding Fathers of the USA and the visionary first President of Harvard College, hailed originally from Northamptonshire.
The famous American poet, Anne Dudley, was born in Northamptonshire, in 1612. Her father, Thomas Dudley became Governor of the State of Boston, as well as first Deputy Governor of the State of Massachusetts.
The influence of American interior designer, Nancy Lancaster, famous for her up-market ‘faded chintz’ décor can be seen in many of the stately homes of Northamptonshire, including Kelmarsh Hall, Kelmarsh, (12 miles north of Northampton); here the faded pink terracotta of the Great Hall, the chintzy Chinese wallpaper all bear testimony to the Nancy Lancaster style.
Travelling to Northamptonshire from the USA
Flight Services include:
Continental Airlines: Newark, New Jersey and Air India: Toronto, both operate direct flights to Birmingham International Airport, UK (website: www.bhx.co.uk). A wider choice of flights is available to Birmingham via Amsterdam, Schipol or Paris CDG.
MAXjet: New York JFK, Washington, Las Vegas; Eos Airlines: New York JFK; FlyGlobespan: Toronto – all operate direct flights to Stansted Airport, UK (website: www.stanstedairport.com). A wider selection of airlines is available via London Heathrow or London Gatwick Airport, UK.
Virgin Atlantic and British Airways operate regular scheduled flights from Washington Dulles and other American cities to London Heathrow; websites: www.virgin-atlantic.com, www.ba.com
Northamptonshire USA Connections
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In fact, the strong bond that exists between the American and British people and our mutual heritage is arguably nowhere more evident in the UK than in the culturally-rich county of Northamptonshire.
Northamptonshire USA connections abound, from the countless emigrants in centuries past who left Northamptonshire in search of pastures new across the pond, to more recent times when the United States 8th Air Force operated from no less than seven airfields in Northamptonshire (between 1942 and 1945). In addition, today’s high density of both USA and UK air bases located in Northamptonshire means that our modern day lives have indeed become inextricably intertwined.
Exploring Northamptonshire USA Connections
USA guests with limited time at their disposal may wish to concentrate their efforts on just a few of the many and varied USA-UK connections dotted throughout Northamptonshire. Suggestions include:
Althorp House, the ancestral home of the Spencer family for over five hundred years is situated approximately seven miles west of Northampton. Visit Princess Diana’s grave; take in the award winning exhibition, ‘Diana: A Celebration’. Princess Diana had American ancestry on her mother's side; her great-grandmother was the New York heiress Frances Work. Althorp House is open to the public, 11am to 5 pm daily, from 1st July to 30th August.
Grafton Underwood (Airfield): Located just to the north of the pretty village of Grafton, four miles north east of Kettering, American guests with a military connection will be fascinated by Grafton Underwood Airfield. This airfield was one of the most strategically important USAAF bases, during World War II. Not only was Grafton Underwood the first Station in England to receive an Eighth Air Force Flying Unit (May 12, 1942), it was also the first base to launch a USAAF heavy bomber operation to Rouen (August 17, 1942). A memorial to the American 8th Air Force is also located at Grafton Underwood.
Carpetbagger Aviation Museum: The Carpetbagger Aviation Museum was established in 1993 at Harrington Airfield to commemorate the 50th Anniversary reunion of the USAAF's 801st /492nd Bomb Group known as The Carpetbaggers. The Carpetbagger Aviation Museum takes visitors on an evocative journey back in time to when the 801st (Provisional) / 492nd Bomb Group engaged in a secret mission to transport agents and vital supplies to resistance groups in occupied Europe, during World War II. The Carpetbagger Aviation Museum is situated on the administration site of the former WW2 Airfield, Harrington; website: www.harringtonmuseum.org.uk.
Rockingham Speedway: Experience motor sport American-style at Rockingham Speedway. Famous for being the fastest oval track in the UK, Rockingham Speedway is located on a three hundred acre ‘brownfield’ site just north of Corby. Rockingham Motor Speedway, Mitchell Road, Corby, was set up originally as a test track for British-built American racing cars. It soon expanded to become one of Northamptonshire’s most popular speedways and motor sports venues. For more information visit the website: www.rockingham.co.uk.
Northamptonshire Villages and Towns with Strong American Links
Flore: The picturesque and historic Northamptonshire village of Flore was the original home of the Adams family. Thomas Adams, the great grandfather of John Adams, the second President of the USA, lived here. Thomas Adams founded a Quaker Meeting House in Flore.
Lamport: President Thomas Jefferson was related to the Isham family of Lamport Hall, an imposing Tudor Manor, with a classical frontage, open to the public from April to October (Sundays only) and throughout August, (Sunday to Friday). Lamport Hall is worth a visit in itself for its impressive array of period furniture, as well as its unique collection of books, paintings and portraits including those of Van Dyck and Kneller, collected by the Isham family, over the years. An added bonus is that Henry Isham was related to Thomas Jefferson!
Ecton: Benjamin Franklin’s ancestors came from the delightful village of Ecton, situated midway between Northampton and Wellingborough. Several of the Franklin family graves can be found at Ecton village Parish Church. A visit to the village pub called ‘The Three Horseshoes’ is also a must to view the exact spot where Benjamin Franklin’s uncle’s smithy once stood.
Did you know that …
Charles Chauncy, one of the Founding Fathers of the USA and the visionary first President of Harvard College, hailed originally from Northamptonshire.
The famous American poet, Anne Dudley, was born in Northamptonshire, in 1612. Her father, Thomas Dudley became Governor of the State of Boston, as well as first Deputy Governor of the State of Massachusetts.
The influence of American interior designer, Nancy Lancaster, famous for her up-market ‘faded chintz’ décor can be seen in many of the stately homes of Northamptonshire, including Kelmarsh Hall, Kelmarsh, (12 miles north of Northampton); here the faded pink terracotta of the Great Hall, the chintzy Chinese wallpaper all bear testimony to the Nancy Lancaster style.
Travelling to Northamptonshire from the USA
Flight Services include:
Continental Airlines: Newark, New Jersey and Air India: Toronto, both operate direct flights to Birmingham International Airport, UK (website: www.bhx.co.uk). A wider choice of flights is available to Birmingham via Amsterdam, Schipol or Paris CDG.
MAXjet: New York JFK, Washington, Las Vegas; Eos Airlines: New York JFK; FlyGlobespan: Toronto – all operate direct flights to Stansted Airport, UK (website: www.stanstedairport.com). A wider selection of airlines is available via London Heathrow or London Gatwick Airport, UK.
Virgin Atlantic and British Airways operate regular scheduled flights from Washington Dulles and other American cities to London Heathrow; websites: www.virgin-atlantic.com, www.ba.com
Northamptonshire USA Connections
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