Finedon

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Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: SP914722

Finedon St Mary's Parish Church

Finedon is a village in Northamptonshire, in the United Kingdom. It is twinned with Wittlich, Germany and Niort, France.

In 1086 when the Domesday Book was completed, Finedon was a large royal manor, previously held by Queen Edith. At this time the village was known as Tingdene, which may originate from the Danish word Ting meaning assembly, together with the Saxon Dene for valley or vale. Tingdene and the later version, Thingdon, were used until the early nineteenth century until finally Finedon became the commonly accepted version, both in written format as well as in pronunciation. (Bailey, 1975)

The importance of Finedon at the time of the Domesday Book is clear, as with a population of 102 it was one of only four towns listed with a population greater than 50 in Northamptonshire - the others being Northampton, Brackley, and Rushton.

The Bell Inn also claims to be listed in the Domesday Book, but the current building does not date back to this period, and there is evidence that the site of the original inn was situated several hundred metres away. However the main building was built around 1598, with the current imposing façade added in 1872.

The Parish Church, St Mary's, is a magnificent mid-fourteenth century church with an aisled and cloistered nave of four bays. The tower houses a ring of eight bells in the key of D with the tenor weighing just over 21 hundredweight (about 1.1 tonnes). The church also boasts an impressive organ which originated from the Chapel Royal in London. It was installed in 1717 and rebuilt in 1872 and retains its tracker action. Popular legend has it that Handel played on the organ whilst it was situated in London, but this has never been decisively proved.

Finedon is linked to the Borough of Wellingborough, although many of the inhabitants are anxious to assert Finedon's distinct identity and not be assimilated into the larger town.

Finedon has a small country park which is officially called Finedon Pocket Park. The local name for the park area (The Pits) is derived from its historical use as an ironstone quarry.

Nearby communities include Irthlingborough, Burton Latimer and Little Harrowden.

[edit] People from Finedon

The poet Digby Mackworth Dolben was brought up at Finedon Hall.
Arthur Henfrey (1867-1929) Cambridge University, Corinthians and England footballer, was born and died in Finedon.