Kingsthorpe

Kingsthorpe is a suburb on the northern part of the county town of Northampton, England. It became part of the borough of Northampton in 1900, and was once a Northamptonshire country village. The name is derived from the Old English cyning and Old Danish torp,meaning the King's hamlet or farmstead. The population of the Northampton ward at the 2011 census was 4,477. A tributary of the River Nene known as the Naseby Source or Brampton Nene flows through the area to the west from north to south, joining the main river west of the Carslberg Brewery near the south bridge. The suburb's facilities are centred on the main A508 and A5199 roads between Northampton town centre and leading to Market Harborough and Leicester respectively. The original village green still maintains a rural character, away from the major roads, overlooked by the church and picturesque vernacular cottages. Kingsthorpe originally had three water mills, some evidence of which can be found in the countryside.

Map of Kingsthorpe, Northampton, UK

The church of St John the Baptist was begun in the 11th century and includes some features which date from that time. The tower and spire are 14th century. There is a monument to Edward Reynolds, died 1698. The William Hone Year Book of 1832 suggested that there "was not a prettier village near Northampton than Kingsthorpe."

Joan Hickson, who played Miss Marple in the television series of the same name, was born in the village. Actress Judy Carne's parents were greengrocers in the village. Lesley Joseph, who plays Dorien Green in Birds of a Feather, was raised here and lived in the suburb until age 18.

The University of Northampton currently has a campus in Kingsthorpe but will be moving close to the town centre.