Irthlingborough
| Irthlingborough | |
|---|---|
 St Peter's Church, Irthlingborough |
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 Irthlingborough
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| Irthlingborough shown within Northamptonshire | |
| Population | 8,900 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SP945705 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WELLINGBOROUGH |
| Postcode district | NN9 |
| Dialling code | 01933 |
| Police | Northamptonshire |
| Fire | Northamptonshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Irthlingborough /ˈɜːrθlɪŋbərə/, is a town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England. It had a population of 8,535 at the 2011 census and is the smallest town in England to have had a Football League team, Rushden & Diamonds F.C. The parish church, St Peter, has a lantern tower, unusual for Northamptonshire churches, which was built to guide travellers across the Nene valley in foggy weather. It also has doors at the four cardinal points; of note are the eight misericords in the chancel.
Irthlingborough was called Yrtlingaburg in the 8th century,Erdiburn in the Domesday Book, and later Artleborough. King Offa of Mercia held court near Irthlingborough circa 790.
In 1375 John Pyel, Mayor of London in 1372 - who is believed to have been born at Irthlingborough circa 1310 - obtained a royal licence to found the college of St. Peter, Irthlingborough by upgrading the parish church of St Peter. The college was to have six secular canons — one a dean — and four clerks, but he died before his intention was actually carried out. The design was eventually accomplished by his widow, Joan, in 1388.
In the past ironstone was mined near Irthlingborough, and as part of the local ironstone mine, a tunnel was bored between Irthlingborough and nearby Finedon. The tunnel still exists, although the Irthlingborough end has been landscaped over and the Finedon end sealed with concrete. Irthlingborough railway station closed in 1964 to passengers.
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