Although born in the Black Country, I moved to Daventry from Walsall via Northampton over forty years ago, I have always considered the town of Daventry as my home. I have established a lot of connections with the town over the years, I met my wife at Southbrook School where I taught for over thirty years and we were later married at Holy Cross Church. I also wrote match reports for the Daventry Express and Daventry Town FC for several years.

Daventry has been a wonderful town in which to live, work and raise our two children. Since retiring from teaching I have concentrated on writing travel reviews of hotels, restaurants, places & events, so when I heard about the publication of a Daventry Heritage Trail, I was very much looking forward to discovering the wealth of information about the town’s historic architecture, significant people & notable events.

I picked up my copy of the trail from the Sheaf Street Health Store, which is the recommended start point and I began to explore. The trail is very easy to follow, each building is clearly numbered on the fold out map and each has been fitted with a bright blue plaque and brief history.

The Short History of Daventry by Mike Tebbitt, which is included on the trail map, contains plenty of fascinating information. Did you know for instance that William Shakespeare’s acting troupe, the Kings Players came to Daventry in the 16thc & performed here when London theatres were closed due to the plague. In Henry IV part 1, Shakespeare refers to the “red nosed innkeeper of Daintree”.

The Historic Public Houses of Daventry lists forty pubs & hotels where towns folk could enjoy a pint, disappointingly only four of those establishments are still trading! It is heartening to see that two former town Coaching Inns; the Dun Cow of 1791 and the Saracens Head circa 1622 are still open for business. Support your local pub!

A long-time favourite local of mine, the Coach & Horses on Warwick street, which was built around 1859 called time some years ago as did The Wheatsheaf Hotel, built in 1610, which still has a special place in my heart. After my marriage at Holy Cross Church, my new wife & I celebrated with family & friends at The Wheatsheaf Hotel, now refurbished & converted into the Wheatsheaf Court Nursing Home.

I am in famous royal company, King Charles I is said to have stayed at the Wheatsheaf Hotel whilst his army were camped up on Borough Hill! There is also a ghost at the hotel, one of the king’s dead former advisers, Thomas Wentworth, the first Earl of Strafford. He is said to have appeared to Charles before the Battle of Naseby, to warn Charles that he could not win the battle. As we all know, Charles ignored this advice and went to battle at Naseby in 1645, only to be met with disastrous defeat by Cromwell and his small but disciplined Parliamentarian army.

To follow the trail set aside an hour, much of it will guide you around the core of the town starting on Sheaf Street, New Street, Market Square and the High Street. A short walk along London road to the Danetre Hospital will allow walkers to take in the former Daventry Union Workhouse, Redwood trees & historic London mile marker.

As someone who has known the town for a considerable period of time, I found the trail to be of great interest. There was much that I did not know about my adopted hometown and plenty that I did but I very much enjoyed walking around town at leisure with the Heritage Trail as my guide. A big shout out to all involved in this worthwhile venture.

Copies of the Daventry Town Trail can be picked up for £1 at Daventry Health Store on Sheaf Street

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