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Wellingborough

Parliament DETAILS

Parents

> United Kingdom > England > East Midlands > East Midlands

Website

Established

December 14, 1918

Disbanded

July 04, 2024

Contributor

Last Modified

RBH May 25, 2024 08:13pm

Description

The town of Wellingborough is situated east of Northampton and north of Bedford. There are significant Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities here, but this constituency covers territory outside the town too. It includes the towns of Rushden and the historic Higham Ferrers, which featured in the Domesday Book. Smaller surrounding villages include Earls Barton, home to All Saints' Church which boasts a 1,000- year-old Saxon tower, a Norman door, a 15th Century screen and a 17th Century tower clock. Wellingborough itself was granted its market charter in 1201, and traders sell their wares here to this day. The town is most noted for its wells, five of which appear on the borough's coat of arms. The waters were popular with the early Stuart nobility, with reputed visits by Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria. Notable buildings in the town include the 13th and 14th Century All Hallows Church and ironstone Tithe Barn from the 15th Century. Business-wise, Wellingborough was founded on ironworks and the leather industry. There are still 60 businesses in the constituency that are involved in footwear manufacturing, and employing more than 3,000 workers. However, today the industrial base has expanded into more diverse light and service industries, such as distribution, with recent development seeing the growth of the Park Farm estate. Farming is also important in the rural parts of the seat, while good rail links to London also serve a population of commuters. In 1997, this was a narrow gain for Labour, who won it with their smallest numerical majority in the country (187 votes). The seat had changed hands a lot in the past, but had been solidly Tory since 1969 and was thought to be safe. Labour's incumbent Paul Stinchcombe managed not only to hold the seat but to build on his majority - up more than 4%.

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HISTORY