Towcester

The Roman town of Lactodorum, standing on Watling Street (A5), developed into a Saxon town and after the Conquest continued to be of strategic importance leading to the building of the castle. In the 15th century it gained a new large perpendicular church (enthusiastically restored in the 19th century). Whilst the castle motte and the church all survive today the centre of the town reflects it’s affluence in the 18th /early 19th century when it was the local town to Easton Neston, a thriving market town, and one of the principal coaching towns on the London to Dublin road. Travellers changed horses here after stopping at Stoney Stratford and before going onto Daventry. The centre of the town remains it’s market square, with handsome Georgian buildings – shops and restaurants – terminating at the far end by the Italo – German Town Hall by T. H. Vernon ( 1865). Behind the market square lies the church and remains of the castle now surrounded by a very sympathetic new development and the town brewery. Elsewhere are to be found it’s good sporting facilities including of course Towcester Racecourse, which was developed by the Lords Hesketh (www.towcester-racecourse.co.uk). There is also a delightful new museum in the town focused on the history of this place.