Introduction
The Historical town of Wellingborough has a fascinating history, and we hope over the coming months to explore different aspects of it. As a start we have compiled the history of the famous Wellingborough Castle. To find out more about this exciting part of our history follow the link to the left.

Follow us as we try to uncover the truth behind local history, unravel strange stories and drag the town into the 21st Century.
Read Dave's Digging Diary, for a TimeTeam style report on his adventures uncovering the past.

History, Fact and Fiction merge to present an unusual representation of this Town we've come to love.

Wellingborough - a 30 second History
The place, today called Wellingborough, situated in the nene valley has bloomed into a modern cutting edge town with a population of around 68,000 people, but it wasn't always like this. It's cultural zenith occurred sometime around 3567BC, when a family of nethanderals passed through the area on their way to a family barbecue and orgy held near modern day Daventry. It is thought they may have even spent the night in the area, although there is no evidence to support this. This seemingly unimportant event has had long lasting repercussions on the area, even today examples of nethanderal behaviour can be seen in the town.
The mercianians and Romans avoided Wellingborough itself choosing to live just down the road in Irthlingborough, as this was prior to the meat rendering plant being built there this was probably a good idea, and certainly at the time would have been more pleasant than living in Wellingborough. The Romans used the area south of present day Wellingborough as a vineyard, and this may suggest why todays citizens enjoy alcoholic beverages.
By the time of the doomsday book Wellingborough had been born (no doubt a caesarean section), going by the name of Wendleberie and having a population of 250 people. It is this old name for the town that the annual waendel walk is named (more on the waendel walk coming soon).
Wellingborough played it's part in the English Civil war, allowing both sides to enter the town and have some Royal or Puritan (depending on the side, but I'm sure you all know what I mean) The real highlight of the Civil war for Locals was when Thomas Jones the elderly vicar was taken to Northampton on the back of a "ferocious Wellingborough bear" for continuing to use the Book of Common Prayer, which was frowned upon at the time. This Event is even today celebrated nightly when local's steal a "ferocious Wellingborough car" and drive off sometimes towards Northampton, a practice which is today frowned upon. Maybe these local history re-enactors should get to the end of the story of Thomas Jones, for he died in Northampton Castle (the bear I presume retired to eat marmalade sandwiches) such as shame the modern Jones don't keep up.
Towards the end of the Civil war a number of locals became diggers (hey good name!) and tried to take over the common land to farm, this somewhat pissed off the Rich and Powerful and as with other Diggers around the country they had their arses spanked by Cromwells New Model Army fresh from fighting the Royalists. I'm sure we'll take a closer look at these guys in the future.
After seeing all the benefit concerts and charity fun runs held to help the victims of the great fire of London the fine citizens of Wellingborough decided to have a go themselves and in 1738 managed to torch most of the town, unfortunately CNN weren't about at the time and it's unlikely that the charity run for Wellingborough held in Kettering raised more than a couple of penny's and a far greater amount of bottle tops!
By 1845 the Railway had reached the town, and this lead to a number of locals taking one day travel cards to London, and a few thousand Londoners moving to Wellingborough, and who says railways are good?
The original market charter dates from 1201, with markets for sheep, pigs, cattle, horses and cheese. Today we still have markets but with dolls houses, video's, computer games and mobile phone ringtones replacing the far more useful produce.
OK so it's taken you more than 30 seconds to read this well maybe, just maybe, I expand the truth just a little to make things a little more interesting.
After a hard day on site what better way to relax than a nice refreshing beer in your local pub? Well if you've been to a Wellingborough Pub, then check out the Wellingborough Locals sections, an interactive guide to Wellingborough pubs.

Produced, compiled and written by Dave "JCB" Digger (c) 2002 Visual Distractions