Northamptonshire

Geography and history

The Roman road of Watling Street passed through the county, with an important Roman settlement at Lactodurum on the site of modern Towcester.^[4] Within the county, one can find archaeological evidence from both the Iron Age and Roman periods, and during the 7th century, Angles and Saxons settled the area, after which it became a part of Mercia.^[5] During the later medieval and early modern eras, the county experienced a period of relative calm, although Northampton was the site of military actions such as the 1264 Battle of Northampton (part of the Second Barons' War) and the 1460 Battle of Northampton (part of the Wars of the Roses).^[5] Northamptonshire gained a reputation for its footwear industry during the Industrial Revolution, and in the present day, the county contains several small industrial hubs that focus on engineering and food processing.^[5]

Arbury Hill, which reaches a height of 225 meters and is located just south of Daventry, represents the county's highest elevation.^[2] The shortest ceremonial county boundary in England, measuring 20 yards, is the one that separates Northamptonshire from Lincolnshire.^[2]

What the cited sources add

A 2018 BBC News report stated that cash-strapped Northamptonshire County Council should be scrapped, with a government report recommending two new unitary councils.^[6] The same report noted that auditor KPMG issued a legal warning leading the council to make £40m worth of cuts for 2018-19.^[6] Max Caller, who led the government investigation, proposed two new unitary authorities by 2020, one covering Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire and the other covering Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Wellingborough.^[6] The BBC News article also reported that £50m per year was needed to meet statutory obligations in Northamptonshire.^[6]