Raunds

Infobox UK place
country = England
latitude = 52.34
longitude = -0.55
official_name = Raunds
population = 8,275 (2001)
shire_district = East Northamptonshire
shire_county = Northamptonshire
region = East Midlands
constituency_westminster = Wellingborough
post_town = WELLINGBOROUGH
postcode_district = NN9
postcode_area = NN
dial_code = 01933
os_grid_reference = SP9972

Raunds is a small market town in rural Northamptonshire, England. It has a population of 8,275 (2001 census), is a civil parish, and is part of the East Northamptonshire district.

Pronunciation

The name of the town is pronounced as "Raawwnds". It is phonetically pronounced raw-nds. It is similar to the first part of the word 'laundry', laund-ry, or like the word 'lawn'.

Geography

Raunds is 15 miles north-east of Northampton. The town is on the southern edge of the Nene valley, and surrounded by arable farming land.

Raunds is close to Stanwick Lakes [ [http://www.stanwicklakes.co.uk/index.htm Stanwick Lakes Web site] ] , a country park developed from gravel pits and managed by Rockingham Forest Trust. This park is internationally recognised for its birdlife, and can be reached on foot from Raunds along Meadows Lane bridleway.

Raunds has an infant school (Park Infants), two primary schools (Windmill and [http://raunds-spsa.org.uk/index.html St Peter's Junior School] ) and one secondary school (Manor School and Sports College). Manor school has had a new all-weather, floodlit, sports pitch installed, costing half a million pounds.

History

In the mid-1980s, during sand excavations in the Nene valley, the remains of a Roman villa were discovered. Excavation of the area, near Stanwick, Northamptonshire, was delayed by several years while archaeologists studied the remains. In 2003 Channel 4's "Time Team" excavated a garden and found remains of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery [ [http://www.channel4.com/history/timeteam/2003_raunds.html "Time Team" investigation] ] .

St Peter's Church, believed to have been built in the 15th century, has the second tallest spire in Northamptonshire at 202 feet (61.5m). The church stands on the site of an Saxon place of worship. During the 15th century patronage of the church changed from St Mary to St Peter. The church features a rare 'left-handed fiddler' decoration above the western entrance. A tombchest dedicated to John Wales, vicar from 1447 to 1496, proves the building has been in use for more than 550 years.

Raunds played a role in the boot and shoe industry until its decline in the 1950s and 60s. In 1905, a dispute arose about wages to be paid to army bootmakers, which culminated in a march to London in May that year [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/myths_legends/england/northants/article_4.shtml Boot makers march to London] ] . Several factories remained into the early 1990s but most are now closed. Several buildings were demolished and housing estates were added. There is little industry in the town. However, on the outskirts of town there are some industrial sites.

Raunds held the record for the highest temperature in Britain at 36.7 degrees Celsius. This was beaten in 2003, when Brogdale topped 38.5 degrees.

Transport

;RoadRaunds is adjacent to the A45 and close to the A14. Access to the M1 and A1 is close and the A14 runs into the M6. Consequently the area attracts distribution companies, and there are many warehouses.;BusBus services are not great, although Raunds does have some. The X46 links the town with Wellingborough and Northampton, running half-hourly. There are intermittent routes to Huntingdon and a local service termed the 'Raunds Rover'.;RailConnections are provided by East Midlands Trains from Wellingborough, and Kettering. There was a Raunds railway station, on the cross-country Midland Railway between Kettering and Cambridge, 1½ miles from the town. This closed in 1959. It was also planned that the Wellingborough-Higham Ferrers branch would continue to Raunds, but landowners prevented it.;WaterwaysStanwick Lakes are within walking or cycling distance of Raunds, and river ways connect to the Nene Valley river section. By boat, Oundle can be reached in a day. The Nene Valley river section connects to the Middle Level Navigation System, making it possible to reach Cambridge and Peterborough. The nearest marina is Willy Watt's in Ringstead, Northamptonshire.

Trade

There are many small businesses and many people commute to larger centres for work (see section on Road transport). Raunds is home to the manufacturing plant of RPC Containers, a Hotpoint distribution centre, and depots for Robert Wiseman Dairies and Avery Dennison. Raunds Co-operative Society ran a supermarket and department store and had 4,000 members until 2007 when it merged with the larger Midlands Co-operative Society. The shops still operate.

A market is held on Fridays in the square. Regular stalls include butchers, plant stockists and confectioners. Local organisations and clubs also set up a stall.

Culture

Raunds holds an annual music festival. [http://www.raundsfestival.com Raunds Music Festival Website] http://www.raundsmads.org.uk/ Raunds Music and Drama Society (MADS)] stage performances through the year.

The town holds a Christmas festival in the square. Continental markets are held annually to celebrate neighbouring countries.

Woodbine Working Mens Club and Conservative Club offer community and recreational facilities from their current sites since 1901 and 1902 respectively.

Sport

;Football [http://www.raundstownfc.co.uk Raunds Town FC] are at Kiln Park and play in the United Counties Football League. As well as the first team, they also have reserve, women's and youth teams. [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.parker24/ Raunds Tigers FC] focus on junior soccer and have several youth teams.

;CricketRaunds Town Cricket Club have a ground in Marshalls Road. The team plays in the Northamptonshire League.

;Archery [http://www.east-northantsonline.co.uk/pp/club/detail.asp?id=2359 Archers of Raunds] meet at Manor school.

Mayors of Raunds

In 2005, the Raunds Town Council decided to (instead of having a chairman of the council) pick a mayor. Holders have been::2005-2006: Lisa Costello:2006-2007: Dudley Hughes:2007-2008: Michelle Goring:2008-2009: Peter Wathen

Nearby settlements

Ringstead, Keyston, Stanwick, Rushden, Higham Ferrers, Thrapston, Hargrave, Wellingborough, Irthlingborough, Chelveston.

References

Sources

*Hall, David; "Raunds: Picturing the past" (F.W. March, 1988) ISBN 0-9509908-3-3

External links

* [http://raundswarmemorials.org/117.html Raunds War Memorials Research] Has interesting Raunds facts.
* [http://www.rpc-containers.co.uk/ RPC Containers]
* [http://www.raundsmethodist.org.uk/ Raunds Methodist Church]
* [http://www.mybritishroots.info/inscriptions.html MyBritishRoots] A List of Headstone inscriptions in St Peters Churchyard.
* [http://www.raundstemperanceband.co.uk/ Raunds Temperance Band]
* [http://www.raunds.org/ Raunds Rainbow Nursery School]