| Tucked away in rural North Northamptonshire is a | | | | octagonal tower with its flying buttresses, as well as, |
| small jewel of a village called Fotheringhay. With its | | | | more recently, the spectacular flood lighting which |
| wide open street and mellow stone built properties it | | | | creates a spectacle visible for miles around each |
| would be impossible not to be touched by the | | | | night. This also has a long and chequered history |
| simplicity of this appealing location. Constructed | | | | having had Fotheringhay College transferred from the |
| mainly out of Ancaster stone (which comes from the | | | | castle to the parish church site in 1415, established to |
| same vein as that of the celebrated Cotswolds) the | | | | ‘pray for the souls of Richard II, Henry IV, |
| houses are either pretty thatched cottages or more | | | | Henry V, the founders and other benefactors and |
| impressive Collyweston roofed farmhouse-type | | | | their families’. It is now home to many |
| buildings, that in other parts of the country people | | | | well-attended concerts throughout the course of the |
| travel miles to see. | | | | year as well as still being in use as a place of worship |
| A mere 5 miles from the busy A1 with its easy links | | | | for the parishioners of this, and neighbouring villages. |
| north and south, the village is perfectly situated | | | | With the increased local interest in outdoor pursuits, |
| amidst gently rolling farmland, seemingly miles from | | | | Fotheringhay is often used as the starting point for |
| anywhere but in fact only ten minutes from access | | | | many interesting walks of varying length. The local |
| to the rest of the country. | | | | footpaths are well looked after and facilities are |
| Famed for its historical connections, Fotheringhay is | | | | improving all the time. Cyclists, presumably attracted |
| home to the birthplace of Richard III and more | | | | to the area due to the lack of steep hills, and |
| sinisterly the execution of Mary Queen of Scots. | | | | relatively quiet roads, also pass through on a regular |
| Although only the site of the castle is left, there are | | | | basis, particularly at the weekends. |
| still enough groundworks to evoke ideas of what | | | | The River Nene, to the south of the village, offers |
| must have been all those years ago. The | | | | good course fishing and an attractive boat route |
| ‘motte and bailey’ castle was first built by | | | | from Oundle or Northampton to Peterborough and |
| Simon de St. Liz in about 1100, followed some 200 | | | | beyond. Flanked by flood meadows, the village can |
| years later by the collegiate church and the | | | | be observed at various times of the year seemingly |
| foundation of the college. By this time the House of | | | | surrounded by water although luckily the village itself |
| York owned the property. | | | | is high enough to escape damage. |
| In the present day members of the Richard III | | | | All in all this is a wonderful place to wander around |
| Society as well as the Mary Stuart Society are | | | | and escape, if only for an hour or two, the hurly |
| regular visitors and hold functions in the village at | | | | burly of modern day living. If you would like to stay a |
| various times throughout the year. | | | | little longer you might try the delightful riverside Bed |
| Visitors are also attracted by the imposing church, | | | | and Breakfast, Castle Farm Guest House right next |
| well known for the unusual construction of the | | | | to the old castle mound. |