Market Harborough
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Market Harborough is a market town in Leicestershire, England, upon the River Welland. It has a population of 20,785 (2001 census), and is the administrative headquarters of the Harborough district.
Market Harborough is located in a rural part of south Leicestershire right next to the Northamptonshire border, and is roughly 15 miles (24 km) south of Leicester. The town is near the A14 main road and Market Harborough railway station is served by the Midland Main Line railway. There is also a branch of the Grand Union Canal which terminates in the town. Nearby to the town are the famous Foxton Locks.
The town is currently an unparished area in the Harborough district, with no town council of its own. It is the third least populated town of this sort.
History
Market Harborough was founded in the 12th century as a market town to provide a market to boost the economy of the surrounding area. The town had a clothes making industry, with corsets being made in the town. The factory where they were made is behind the Old Grammar School in the photo - it is now used as a library.One of the town's most notable features is an unusual grammar school dating from 1614 located in the town centre which stands on wooden stilts. The underside was once used as a butter market. Market Harborough Grammar School was founded in 1607 by Robert Smyth, a poor native of the town who became Comptroller of the City of London's Chamber and member of the Merchant Taylors' Company. The school that is descended from that original now caters for 13-18 year-olds and is called the Robert Smyth School (once upon a time it was the King Edward VII Grammar School). The school badge is the arms of the City of London. The other main school in the town is Welland Park School, for pupils aged 11 to 14, which acts as a feeder school for Robert Smyth School.
Trivia
The town also has the smallest street (in terms of length) in Europe- called Little Street, conencting the High Street to the Nags Head.
The Church of England parish church is dedicated to St Dionysius, and is of a broach spire construction.
The town's main source of media is the Harborough Mail, a weekly newspaper.
Actor Jeremy Bulloch, who played Bobba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy, was born in the town.
Market Harborough Cricket Club has two teams, one of which plays in the Leicestershire Premier Division.
External links
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