Editing Towcester (section)

==History==

===Prehistoric and Roman periods===
{{Main|Lactodurum}}
Towcester lays claim to being the oldest town in Northamptonshire and possibly, because of the antiquity of recent [[British Iron Age|Iron Age]] finds in the town, to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the country. There is evidence that it was settled by humans since the [[Mesolithic]] era (middle stone age). There is also evidence of Iron Age burials in the area.

In [[Roman Britain]], [[Watling Street]], now the A5 road, was built through the area and a garrison town called ''Lactodurum'' established on the site of the present-day town. Two candidate sites for the [[Battle of Watling Street]], fought in 61AD, are located close to the town, these are [[Church Stowe]] which is located {{convert|4+1/3|mi|km}} to the north<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.craftpegg.com/Battle_Church_Stowe_CP.pdf |title=Landscape Analysis and Appraisal Church Stowe, Northamptonshire, as a Candidate Site for the Battle of Watling Street |access-date=29 August 2010 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233915/http://www.craftpegg.com/Battle_Church_Stowe_CP.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Paulerspury]] which is {{convert|3|mi|km}} to the south.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/artsandculture/728896/UK-The-original-Iron-Lady-rides-again.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=UK: The original Iron Lady rides again | first=Byron | last=Rogers | date=2003-10-11 | access-date=2 April 2018 | archive-date=14 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414201137/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/artsandculture/728896/UK-The-original-Iron-Lady-rides-again.html | url-status=live }}</ref> A stone female head, that mixes [[Celtic art|Celtic]] and [[Roman art|Roman]] styles, was found on Watling Street outside the town and was given to the [[British Museum]] in 1903.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1363122&partId=1&searchText=towcester+head&page=1 |title=British Museum Highlights |access-date=15 June 2017 |archive-date=15 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915023851/https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1363122&partId=1&searchText=towcester+head&page=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Saxon period and Medieval age===
When the Romans [[Roman withdrawal from Britain|left in the 5th century]], the area was settled by [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxons]]. In the 9th century, Watling Street became the frontier between the kingdom of [[Wessex]] and the [[Danelaw]], and thus Towcester became a frontier town. [[Edward the Elder]] fortified Towcester in 917. In the 11th century, the [[Normans]] built a [[motte-and-bailey castle]] on the site. [[Bury Mount]] is the remains of the fortification and is a scheduled [[ancient monument]]. It was renovated in 2008 with an access ramp and explanatory plaques added.

===Georgian and Victorian periods===
In the 18th and early 19th centuries, in the heyday of the stagecoach and the mail coach, Watling Street became a major coaching road between [[London]] and [[Holyhead]], and Towcester flourished, becoming a major stopping point. Many [[coaching inn]]s and stabling facilities were provided for travellers in Towcester, many of which remain.

The coaching trade came to an abrupt halt in September 1838 when the [[London and Birmingham Railway]] was opened, which bypassed Towcester and passed through [[Blisworth]]; four miles away but enough to result in Towcester quickly reverting to being a quiet market town. By 1866 however, Towcester was linked to the national rail network by the first of several routes which came together to form the [[Stratford Junction Railway|Stratford and Midland Junction Railway]].<ref name="SMJR">{{cite web |title=Stratford and Midland Junction Railway (SMJ) |url=http://www.towcestersrailwayhistory.co.uk |access-date=5 June 2008 |archive-date=23 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723113316/http://www.towcestersrailwayhistory.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Eventually, from [[Towcester railway station]] it was possible to travel four different ways out of the town: to Blisworth (opened May 1866); to [[Banbury]] (opened June 1872); to [[Stratford-upon-Avon]] (opened July 1873); and finally [[Olney, Buckinghamshire|Olney]] (for access to [[Bedford]], opened December 1892). The latter line however was an early casualty, closing to passengers in March 1893 although it continued to be used by race specials up until the outbreak of the [[Second World War]]. The Banbury line closed to passengers in July 1951 and the rest in April 1952. Goods traffic lingered on until final axing in February 1964 as part of the [[Beeching cuts]]. The site of Towcester railway station is now a [[Tesco]] supermarket.

Towcester might have gained a second station on a branch line of the [[Great Central Railway]] from its main line at [[Brackley]] to [[Northampton]], but this branch was never built.{{cn|date=June 2022}}

===20th century and beyond===

During the [[Second World War]], Towcester received many evacuees from London as the Government felt the town was far enough away from any major settlements that could be a target. The town escaped any major aerial attacks but was bombed on two occasions, firstly by a plane that dropped its last six bombs following an attack on nearby Rugby. A few months later a German bomber dropped twelve bombs on the town during a "drop and run" attack.{{cn|date=June 2022}}

The motor age brought new life to the town. Although now bypassed by the A43, the A5 trunk traffic still passes directly through the historic market town centre causing traffic jams at some times of the day. The resulting pollution has led to the town centre being designated an [[Air pollution in the United Kingdom|air quality management area]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/content/articles/2006/05/24/climate_chaos_air_pollution_feature.shtml|title=BBC - Northamptonshire - Features: Northants' air pollution|access-date=12 April 2007|archive-date=27 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327114816/http://www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/content/articles/2006/05/24/climate_chaos_air_pollution_feature.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> An A5 north-south bypass with plans for expansion of the town was being planned by the [[West Northamptonshire Development Corporation]] in 2007.<ref name="C&E">{{cite web |title=Sandra Barnes, Leader of South Northants Council, says "This is putting a mark down for future generations and they're not going to thank us for just putting 3,000 houses down" (17 December 2007) |url=http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/northampton-chronicle-and-echo/3000-homes-39must-make-town.3595643.jp |access-date=13 October 2008 |archive-date=6 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206185457/http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/northampton-chronicle-and-echo/3000-homes-39must-make-town.3595643.jp |url-status=live }}</ref> A scheme to build a bypass for the A5 was submitted in 2020 and expected to cost up to £38 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jefford |first=Will |date=3 March 2021 |title=Vital relief road for Northants town could be completed by 2023 |url=https://www.northantslive.news/news/northamptonshire-news/vital-towcester-bypass-could-completed-5067853 |access-date=6 April 2021 |website=northantslive |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 January 2020 |title=A5 Towcester relief road plan submitted to council |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-51205482 |access-date=6 April 2021 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> As of 2023 a relief road to the south linking the A5 to the A43 is under construction, and traffic calming measures will be implemented in the town centre while avoiding potential damage to the ancient Roman road.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/towcester-relief-road-reaches-key-milestone-4424167|title=Towcester relief road reaches key milestone}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper-Fiske |first=Casey |date=2024-02-26 |title=Road plan costing £38m in pretty UK market town halted for one reason |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1870774/towcester-bypass-plans-halted |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Express.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

The population was 2,743 at the time of the [[Census in the United Kingdom|1961 Census]] and this had grown to 9,252 by the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]] – a growth rate of about 3% per year. It has since rapidly expanded and there are plans to expand still further<ref name="NJPU" /><ref name="NJPU2011">{{Cite web |url=http://www.westnorthamptonshirejpu.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=yGF5DP4Bpmk%3d&tabid=159 |title=2011 expansion plans – Pre-Submission Joint Core Strategy, Committee Version, 31 January 2011 |access-date=30 January 2011 |archive-date=22 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722185815/http://www.westnorthamptonshirejpu.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=yGF5DP4Bpmk=&tabid=159 |url-status=live }}</ref> with another 3,300 houses equating to an appx 8,250 increase in population. Improvements to the links to the A43 and Watling Street roundabout took place in the first half of 2015, including traffic light controls.