daventry

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Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 25,026 (2011 census). The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 77,843 (2011 census). Geography The town is 76.4 miles (123 km) north-northwest of London via the M1 motorway, 13.9 miles (22.4 km) west of Northampton, 10.2 miles (16.4 km) southeast of Rugby. And 15.8 miles (25.2 km) north-north east of Banbury. Characteristics Daventry’s Burton Memorial The town comprises a historic market centre surrounded by much modern housing and light industrial development. On the edge of the town centre is the popular Daventry Country Park and reservoir, just east of the A425. History On the 653-foot-high (199 m) Borough Hill that overlooks the town, remains have been found of an Iron Age hill fort – one of the largest found in Britain. Remains have also been found on the hill of a Roman villa. Danetre was a Viking Settlement made by the Danish Vikings invading England, which is how its name derived, albeit based on an earlier Brythonic name, see below. These Vikings were led by Ivar the Boneless; all of Eastern Anglia was eventually taken over. Danetre, as it was known then, was a Viking stronghold. People in Daventry still claim Viking descent. Daventry began as a small Anglo-Saxon village in around 920 and by the 12th century had become home to a priory. In 1255 Daventry was granted a charter to become a market town. In 1576 Queen Elizabeth I granted Daventry borough status. 66428
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