View source for Oundle

{{Short description|Market town in Northamptonshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| official_name = Oundle
| coordinates = {{coord|52.480|-0.472|display=inline,title}}
| population = 6254
| population_ref = [[United Kingdom Census 2021|(2021 census)]]
| civil_parish = Oundle  <ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.oundle.gov.uk/|title=Oundle Town Council|website=www.oundle.gov.uk}}</ref>
| unitary_england = [[North Northamptonshire]]
| lieutenancy_england = [[Northamptonshire]]
| region = East Midlands
| constituency_westminster = [[Corby (UK Parliament constituency)|Corby and East Northamptonshire]]
| post_town = PETERBOROUGH
| postcode_district = PE8
| postcode_area = PE
| dial_code = 01832
| os_grid_reference = TL038880
| london_distance = {{convert|69|mi|km|0}}
| static_image_name = Oundle 1469.JPG
| static_image_caption = North Street, Oundle
}}

'''Oundle''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|aʊ|n|d|əl}}) is a [[market town]] and [[civil parish]] on the left bank of the [[River Nene]] in [[North Northamptonshire]], England, which had a population of 6,254 at the time of the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]]. It is {{convert|69|miles|km|abbr=off}} north of [[London]] and {{convert|12|mi|km|abbr=on}} south-west of [[Peterborough]]. The town is home to [[Oundle School]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oundle |url=https://www.oundleschool.org.uk|access-date=29 November 2021 |website=Oundle School}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Oundle, Market Hall (geograph 5805986).jpg|thumb|left|The [[Old Town Hall, Oundle|Old Town Hall]]]]
The town's name origin is uncertain.  It is probably an old district name, in a grammatical form suggesting a tribal name, 'the Undalas'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Northamptonshire/Oundle|title=Key to English Place-names|website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk}}</ref>

Discoveries of prehistoric and [[Bronze Age]], [[Iron Age]] and Roman materials suggest that Oundle has been a settlement location for several thousand years.<ref name="arch1">{{Cite web |date=July 2012 |title=Archaeological desk-based assessment on land at Ashton Road, Oundle, Northamptonshire |url=https://www.oundle.gov.uk/uploads/archaeological-desk-based-assessment-report-5612-text-only.pdf |access-date=4 April 2021 |website=Oundle Town Council}}</ref>  Findings have included a number of Iron Age coins, and Roman bronze pins, coins and skeletons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oundle |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/northants/vol1/pp70-72 |website=British History Online}}</ref> A significant Roman find was part of a Roman cup discovered in the church yard of St. Peter's Church in the early 19th Century.  Further excavation on the site led to the findings of many Roman coins, some from the time of the reign of [[Claudius|Emperor Claudius]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Murray |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/handbookfortrave00john_16 |title=Handbook for travellers in Northamptonshire and Rutland |date=1878 |publisher=J. Murray |location=London |page=[https://archive.org/details/handbookfortrave00john_16/page/47 47]}}</ref> The finding of red tile and building stone at a site near Ashton Road, Oundle is seen as suggestive that there may have been a Roman villa there; a nearby archaeological evaluation found a ditch containing fragments of [[Romano-British culture|Romano-British]] pottery.<ref name="arch1" />

The [[Saxons|Saxon]] invasion saw the arrival of a tribe called ''Undalas'' which possibly meant ''undivided''. Oundle was the site of a hospitium, a building used by monks to give shelter and assistance to travellers, which dates back to 638 AD.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The History of Oundle |url=https://www.information-britain.co.uk/history/town/Oundle14/ |access-date=4 April 2021 |website=Information Britain}}</ref> It is the death place of [[St Wilfrid]] in 709 AD where he had consecrated a church as well as being the location of one of his [[Monastery|monasteries]]. The current St Peter's Church<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oundlestpeters.org.uk/|title=St Peters Church - Oundle - Parish church in Oundle}}</ref> occupies the same site as St Wilfrid's original church.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Page |first=William |title=A History of the County of Northampton |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66265 |access-date=2015-04-05 |publisher=British History Online}}</ref>

The first clear reference to Oundle is to be found in a 715 account by Eddi, who was the chantor to St Wilfrid, who referred to it as ''Undolum''. Bede variously refers to it as ''Inundalum'' and ''Undulana mœgð''.<ref name="arch1" />

Saint Cetta or Cett,<ref>{{PASE|207535|Cett 1|cw=1|accessdate=2015-04-05}}</ref> a 7th-century [[saint]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Translate |url=http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=no&u=http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/coundle&prev=/search%3Fq%3DCett%2Bof%2BOundle%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D527 |access-date=2015-04-05}}</ref> is the [[Patron Saint]] of Oundle.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Carwyn Hywel |title=The concept of territory in the late Anglo-Saxon and early Medieval cult of saints in England |url=http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/632/1/Morris10MPhil_A1b.pdf |access-date=2015-04-05 |publisher=Etheses.bham.ac.uk |page=5}}</ref> Very little is known of him but according to the [[Anglo-Saxon]] [[Secgan|Secgan Manuscript]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The British Library MS Viewer |url=http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=stowe_ms_944_f029v |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140103065303/http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=stowe_ms_944_f029v |archive-date=3 January 2014 |access-date=2014-01-03 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> he was buried in the [[monastery]] at Oundle, near the [[River Nene]], around 1000 [[Anno Domini|AD]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cett – oi |url=http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095600515 |access-date=2015-04-05 |publisher=Oxfordindex.oup.com}}</ref> and a chapel to him built in the 11th century, on the small knoll beyond the end of St Osyths Lane. This and the [[fair|market]] [[Royal charter|charter]] granted in 972<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Oundle |url=https://www.oundle.info/about-oundle/ |access-date=4 April 2021 |website=Oundle.info |publisher=Oundle Town Council}}</ref>  explain  the growth of Oundle in the 12th century.<ref name="ONP">{{Cite web |title=Oundle Neighbourhood Plan 2011–2031 |url=https://www.oundle.gov.uk/uploads/oundle-neighbourhood-plan---final-v6-07052019.pdf |access-date=4 April 2021 |website=North Northamptonshire Council |page=10}}</ref>

The [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 records Oundle in [[Polebrook]] hundred with a population of 36 households, a mill and a value in [[Norman Invasion|1066]] of [[Pound Sterling|£]]0.3, which had risen to £11 by 1086.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search &#124; Domesday Book |url=http://domesdaymap.co.uk/search/?geo=oundle |access-date=2015-04-05 |publisher=Domesdaymap.co.uk }}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

There has been a [[grammar school]] in Oundle since at least 1465,<ref name="ONP" /> at which [[William Laxton (Lord Mayor of London)|Sir William Laxton (Lord Mayor of London)]] was educated. In his will he left a legacy to found Laxton Grammar School in 1556, now known as [[Oundle School]], administered by the [[Worshipful Company of Grocers]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oundle School |url=https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/schools/oundle-school-peterborough |access-date=4 April 2021 |website=The Good Schools Guide |publisher=The Good Schools Guide}}</ref><ref name="ONP" />

In 1743 a group of mutineers from the [[42nd Regiment of Foot|Black Watch]] were captured at Ladywood, near Oundle. They had deserted in protest at being sent abroad, instead of patrolling the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]], for which the regiment had been raised.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Black Watch – The Mutiny |url=http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/bwatch/bw2.htm |access-date=2015-04-05 |publisher=Electricscotland.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Legends of The Black Watch |url=http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/bwatch/ledgends_1.htm |access-date=2015-04-05 |publisher=Electricscotland.com}}</ref> The [[Old Town Hall, Oundle|Old Town Hall]], which replaced an earlier building on the same site dating back to the 16th century, was completed in 1830.<ref>{{NHLE|desc= The Town Hall|num= 1372119|access-date=15 March 2022}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{main|Corby and East Northamptonshire (UK Parliament constituency)}}
Oundle is part of the parliamentary constituency of [[Corby and East Northamptonshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Corby and East Northamptonshire]].  The current [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for Corby is [[Lee Barron (politician)|Lee Barron]] of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], who was elected in [[2024 United Kingdom general election|July 2024]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001179|title=Corby and East Northamptonshire - General election results 2024|access-date=26 August 2024|work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

At a local level, the town elects 12 people every four years to the Oundle [[Town Council]].  The council is a non-politically affiliated group that works to further the social and economic interests of Oundle.  A Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by the council every May.<ref name="auto"/>

==Geography==
Oundle is a town located in the [[North Northamptonshire]] district of [[Northamptonshire]] county, on the [[River Nene]], with Corby 9 miles to the west, and Peterborough 12 miles to the north-east. Oundle falls into the 'PE8' post-code district for Peterborough.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Postcode – Oundle |url=https://postal-code.co.uk/postcode/Oundle |website=postal-code.co.uk}}</ref>

The Oundle Parish consists of approximately 900 hectares and covers the entire urban build, as well as open countryside.  The boundary follows the River Nene to the East and South of the town, and extends west to Oundle Wood and north to Park Wood.  This boundary was established during an extensive East Northants Boundary review in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oundle Neighbourhood Plan |url=https://www.oundle.gov.uk/uploads/oundle-neighbourhood-plan-reg-14-v9-draft-01122017.pdf |website=Oundle.gov.uk}}</ref>

===Geology===
The region itself is located on solid formations from the [[Jurassic]] age, with Oundle being built on the [[sedimentary rock]] [[oolite]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Taylor |first=J.H. |url=http://pubs.bgs.ac.uk/publications.html?pubID=B01609 |title=Geology of the country around Kettering, Corby and Oundle |date=1963 |publisher=HMSO}}</ref>

==Economy==
Oundle is home to one of two factories producing luxury motor yachts for [[Fairline Yachts Ltd.]] The original company, [[Fairline Boats]], which was also located in Oundle entered administration in 2015 before being acquired by Russian investors in January 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 January 2016 |title=Fairline Boats: New owners buy firm but close a factory |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-35409079}}</ref>

==Landmarks==
===Public houses===
[[File:Internal View of Oak Staircase with The Talbot Hotel.jpg|right|thumb|Internal View of Oak Staircase within The Talbot Hotel]]
Among the oldest buildings is the [[The Talbot Hotel (Northamptonshire)|Talbot Hotel]]. This was constructed of timber; it was rebuilt with stone in 1626 from the ruins of nearby [[Fotheringhay Castle]].  The hotel is notable for the claim of being haunted by the ghost of [[Mary, Queen of Scots]], who was executed in Fotheringhay in 1587.  The hotel is said to contain the oak staircase taken from the ruins of Fotheringhay Castle that Mary walked down while being escorted to her execution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.english-inns.co.uk/HauntedInns.htm|title=Haunted Hotels &#124; Haunted Inns in England &#124; English Country Inns|website=www.english-inns.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://talbothotel.co.uk/the-hotel/history/|title=History|website=The Talbot Hotel, Eatery and Coffee House - Oundle, Northamptonshire}}</ref>
The hotel has a room named the Drumming Well Room, named after a well in a yard that was reputed to produce a drumming noise warning of events of ill-omen or of imminent death.<ref>{{cite news|title= At Oundle|newspaper= Stamford Mercury |date= 9 September 1714|page= 11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://oundle-heritage.daisy.websds.net/Filename.ashx?systemFileName=OUHOS00040.pdf&origFilename=OUHOS00040.pdf|title= The Drumming Well|website= Oundle Heritage|accessdate= 18 June 2022}}</ref>

Other [[public house]]s include The Rose & Crown, a 17th-century inn, The Ship Inn, a 14th-century [[coaching inn]], The George, and The Riverside, which has become derelict.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Riverside Inn, Oundle |url=http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/northamptonshire/oundle_riverside.html |website=Closed Pubs}}</ref>

===Churches===
There are a number of [[Church (building)|churches]]. By far the most prominent, its 210-foot spire being the tallest in Northamptonshire, is St Peter's Church<ref>{{Cite web |title=St Peters Church Oundle |url=http://www.oundlestpeters.org.uk/ |access-date=2015-04-05 |publisher=Oundlestpeters.org.uk}}</ref> which has the main [[churchyard]]. There are also [[Methodist]], [[Baptist]] and [[Roman Catholic]] churches. The Baptist church has a premises on St Osyth's Lane but holds services on Sunday mornings at Oundle Church of England Primary School.

===The Stahl Theatre===
The Stahl Theatre is a 264-seat theatre venue owned by Oundle School that was previously a disused Congregational Church chapel on West Street.  Oundle School, under the instruction of then housemaster John Harrison, bought the building in the late 1970s and converted the chapel into the theatre which opened for performances in 1980. Harrison became the building's director and produced many performances before his retirement in 1993.  In 2012 he returned to produce ''Love's Labour's Lost'', his 100th Stahl Theatre production before his death in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2018 |title=John Harrison obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/nov/14/john-harrison-obituary |website=The Guardian}}</ref> The building is named after Ronald Stahl, a US citizen who lived in Oundle in 1900.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 November 2010 |title=Stahl Theatre in Oundle is 30 years old |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/northampton/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_9231000/9231854.stm}}</ref>  Today, the theatre is used by a variety of local groups, including Oundle School, Oundle Church of England Primary school and the local Oundle Gilbert & Sullivan Players.

===War memorial===
The war memorial, known officially as the Oundle and Ashton War Memorial, is located at the junction of New Street and West Street. Constructed in 1920 at a cost of £600, it was unveiled on 14 November 1920 by Mr F.W. Sanderson and dedicated at the same ceremony by Canon Smalley Law, the Vicar of Oundle. Originally commemorating the local lives lost during the [[World War I|First World War]], it also includes dedications to those killed in the [[World War II|Second World War]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Memorial – Oundle and Ashton |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/14919 |website=Imperial War Museum}}</ref> The memorial takes the form of a five-stepped octagonal base surmounted by two square plinths and a slightly tapering rectangular pillar. In turn, this is further surmounted by a small cross. The memorial was classed as a Grade II listed building by Historic England on 7 June 1974, which classes it as a 'particularly important building of more than special interest.'<ref>{{Cite web |title=WAR MEMORIAL AT SOUTH END OF NEW STREET |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1039826 |website=Historic England}}</ref>

The memorial has inscriptions to 95 people killed in the two wars.  68 for the First World War and 27 for the Second World War.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Names on Memorials – Oundle and Ashton Memorial |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/names/search?filters%5BmemorialString%5D%5BOundle%20and%20Ashton%20%28WMR%2014919%29%5D=on |website=Imperial War Museum}}</ref> The now closed Oundle Middle School took the names of four of those inscribed on the memorial as names of its school houses, those were D.F. Barber, J.L. Marlow, J.H. Mason and P. Richardson.  All four served in the [[Royal Air Force]] during the Second World War.

==Transport==
===Road===
Oundle is located off the [[A605 road|A605]] that links the [[A14 road (England)|A14]] at [[Thrapston]] to the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] at Peterborough.  The road at Oundle underwent major improvements in 1985 resulting in the Oundle bypass being opened on 12 December 1985 by [[Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester]] and is commemorated by a plinth and brass plaque at the roundabout.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7FHK_Oundle_Bypass_Plaque_A605_Oundle_Northamptonshire_UK|title=Oundle Bypass Plaque - A605, Oundle, Northamptonshire, UK - UK Historical Markers on Waymarking.com|website=www.waymarking.com}}</ref>

===Rail===
With the definitive closure of [[Oundle railway station]] in late 1972,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Clinker, C.R. |title=Clinker's Register of Closed Passenger Stations and Goods Depots in England, Scotland and Wales 1830–1977 |date=October 1978 |publisher=Avon-AngliA Publications & Services |isbn=0-905466-19-5 |location=Bristol |page=105}}</ref><ref>Butler, P., (2007) ''A History of the Railways of Northamptonshire,'' Great Addington: Silver Link Publishing</ref> there are currently no rail links operating in Oundle. The station originally opened in June 1845 and was designed by [[John Livock]], a prominent architect at the time who was best known for his railway station construction.  The original station building is still in use today as private residential property.

===Bus===
There is no main bus station in Oundle, however, there are regular services stopping in the market place with several other stops located throughout the town.  The primary bus route servicing Oundle daily is the [[Stagecoach Midlands|Stagecoach]] operated [[Stagecoach Gold bus route X4|X4]] that links Northampton and Peterborough.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stagecoach invests £3.1m in X4 buses serving Northampton, Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby |url=https://www.businessbreakingnews.net/2018/10/stagecoach-invests-3-1m-in-x4-buses-serving-northampton-wellingborough-kettering-and-corby/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823172458/https://www.businessbreakingnews.net/2018/10/stagecoach-invests-3-1m-in-x4-buses-serving-northampton-wellingborough-kettering-and-corby/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=23 August 2019}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Oundle Church of England Primary School entrance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|View of the entry to Oundle Church of England Primary School.]]
The town's most notable school is [[Oundle School]], a [[public school (United Kingdom)|public school]] with around a thousand pupils, most of whom are [[Boarding school|boarders]]. The two other schools in the town are [[Prince William School]], a [[comprehensive school]] named after the late [[Prince William of Gloucester]], and Oundle Church of England Primary School, which rated as "Outstanding" in its 2011 Ofsted inspection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=OFSTED |title=Inspection Reports |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/121984 |access-date=24 May 2013 |website=Oundle Primary School |publisher=OFSTED}}</ref>

==Media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]]. Television signals are received from the [[Sandy Heath transmitting station|Sandy Heath]] TV transmitter, [[BBC East Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]]  can also be received from the [[Waltham transmitting station|Waltham]] TV transmitter. 

The town is covered by both [[BBC Radio Northampton]] and [[BBC Radio Cambridgeshire]]. Other radio stations including [[Heart East]], [[Smooth East Midlands]] (formerly [[Connect Radio 97.2 & 107.4|Connect FM]]) and [[OSCAR Radio]], a school-based radio station which broadcast from the [[Oundle School]] in the town. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oscar-radio.org/|title=OSCAR Radio|access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref>

Local newspapers are [[Peterborough Telegraph]] and Nene Valley News, a local independent community newspaper. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nenevalleynews.co.uk/|title=Nene Valley News|access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref>

==Culture and community==
Oundle hosts a number of annual events, notably:
*The [[Oundle International Festival]] (OIF) is an annual music festival and [[pipe organ]] school, founded in 1985, with the training of young [[organist]]s as its core. These summer schools are centred on a [[Frobenius Orgelbyggeri|Frobenius]] organ in the Oundle School [[chapel]]. A concurrent festival programme for the public was also planned as a recurrent feature.
*The Oundle Festival of Literature has regular events throughout the year featuring established, local and new authors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Oundle Festival of Literature |url=http://www.oundlelitfest.org.uk/ |access-date=2015-04-05 |publisher=Oundlelitfest.org.uk}}</ref>
*The Oundle Fringe Festival is an annual arts and entertainment festival that began in 2011 to help showcase local musical and literary performers.  It has grown rapidly since its inception and takes place over a 10-day period every July, with performances of genres of music such as rock and jazz, and also literary readings and theatrical performances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oundlefringe.org/|title=Oundle Fringe Festival – A Week of Music & Performance in July}}</ref>
*The Oundle [[carnival]] has taken place since 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oundle Carnival |url=http://www.oundlecarnival.co.uk/ |access-date=2011-06-09 |publisher=Oundlecarnival.co.uk |archive-date=17 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717050856/http://www.oundlecarnival.co.uk/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A [[farmers' market]] is held in the Market Place on the second Saturday of every month as well as a local market every Thursday. There is a park with swings and climbing frames, as well as a skatepark built in 2005 and regenerated in 2012. An annual fair and circus is held in the park.

Oundle has shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants in the town centre. It also has three supermarkets: a Co-op, a Waitrose and a Tesco.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/new-oundle-store-will-be-worth-the-waitrose-1-5571314|title=New Oundle store will be worth the Waitrose|access-date=22 August 2019|archive-date=22 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822181037/https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/new-oundle-store-will-be-worth-the-waitrose-1-5571314|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Filming Locations==
External shots for the 2012 [[Daniel Radcliffe]] film [[The Woman in Black (2012 film)|''The Woman in Black'']] were filmed at [[Cotterstock]] Hall just north of Oundle.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Daniel Radcliffe's The Woman In Black takes in Northamptonshire filming location |url=https://www.thelocationguide.com/2012/02/daniel-radcliffe%E2%80%99s-the-woman-in-black-takes-in-northamptonshire-filming-location/ |website=The Location Guide}}</ref>

In September 2022 filming occurred in Oundle for the fifth season of the Netflix series [[The Crown (TV series)|''The Crown'']].  Filming took place at the corner of the Market Place and North Street.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Crown season 5: Filming of Netflix show starts in market town Oundle |url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/people/the-crown-season-5-filming-of-netflix-show-starts-in-market-town-oundle-3846259 |website=Peterborough Telegraph |access-date=24 February 2023}}</ref>

==Town partnerships==
Oundle maintains [[sister city|partnerships]] with the following places:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oundle Chronicle |url=http://oundlechronicle.co.uk/2009/06/matching-twins |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505040506/http://oundlechronicle.co.uk/2009/06/matching-twins |archive-date=5 May 2013 |access-date=2015-04-05 |publisher=Oundlechronicle.co.uk |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*[[Andrésy]], France
*[[Nauort]], Germany

==Notable people==
*[[William Abell]] – a [[vintner]] (wine merchant) born in Oundle<ref>{{cite ODNB |title=William Abell |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-35 |year = 2004|doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/35|last1 = Freist|first1 = Dagmar}}</ref>
*[[George Blagden]] – actor who was accepted into Oundle School on a drama scholarship and performed various roles at the town's Stahl Theatre. He has since appeared in television shows such as [[Vikings (2013 TV series)|''Vikings'']] and [[Versailles (TV series)|''Versailles'']], and also the 2012 movie [[Les Misérables (2012 film)|''Les Misérables'']].<ref>{{Cite web |title=George Blagden Signs On to Play Grantaire in LES MISERABLES Film |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/George-Blagden-Signs-On-to-Play-Grantaire-in-LES-MISERABLES-Film-20120130 |website=Broadway World}}</ref>
*[[Richard Dawkins]] – a scientist educated in Oundle<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 2009 |title=Humanist Portray: Meet Richard Dawkins |work=Humanists International |url=https://humanists.international/2009/02/humanist-portray-meet-richard-dawkins/}}</ref>
*[[Bruce Dickinson]] – frontman of [[Iron Maiden]]; attended [[Oundle School]] as a teenager.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 October 2017 |title=Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson: The rock star who is more choir boy than hellraiser |url=https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/869291/Bruce-Dickinson-Iron-Maiden-autobiography-rock-star-pilot-sword-fencer-novelist-brewer |website=The Express Newspaper}}</ref>
*[[Marian Hobbs]] – former politician (formerly on the staff of [[Prince William School]])
*[[John Knight (cricketer)|John Knight]] – cricketer<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Knight |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/16083.html |website=ESPN Cricket Info}}</ref>
*[[Louise Mensch]] – briefly the local [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP), lived in Oundle<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oundle-online.co.uk/louise-mensch-mp-member-of-parliament-for-oundle-corby-and-east-northamptonshire/ |title= Louise Mensch MP - Member of Parliament for Oundle, Corby and East Northamptonshire &#124; Oundle-Online|website=www.oundle-online.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228055026/http://www.oundle-online.co.uk/louise-mensch-mp-member-of-parliament-for-oundle-corby-and-east-northamptonshire/ |archive-date=28 February 2012}}</ref>
*[[Himesh Patel]] – actor who appeared in the British [[soap opera]] ''[[EastEnders]]'' from 2007 to 2016 and stars in the 2019 film [[Yesterday (2019 film)|''Yesterday'']] directed by [[Danny Boyle]] attended [[Prince William School]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Former Oundle pupil is starring in Danny Boyle's new Beatles-inspired movie |work=Northants Telegraph |url=https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/former-oundle-pupil-is-starring-in-danny-boyle-s-new-beatles-inspired-movie-1-8975848}}</ref>
*[[Ebenezer Prout]] – a [[musical theorist]] and composer born in Oundle.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6h2nk4dCGEsC&q=Ebenezer+Prout+oundle&pg=PA225 |title=The Musical Times, Volume 40 |date=1899 |publisher=Novello and Company |location=London |page=225}}</ref>
*[[Ivo Watts-Russell]] – founder of independent record label [[4AD]] was born nearby and went to school in Oundle<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 2013 |title=4AD: the 'pure' label behind Pixies and Cocteau Twins |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/10/4ad-label-behind-pixies-cocteau-twins |website=The Guardian Newspaper}}</ref>

==Sport==
===Football===
*Oundle Town Football Club – founded in 1883 and currently playing in the [[Peterborough and District Football League]] Division 1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/divisions/142/|title=Peterborough & District League Division One - NonLeagueMatters}}</ref> As well as the senior teams, Oundle Town FC also have minis, youth and junior teams, as well as walking, vets, ladies and girls teams.

===Rugby===
* [[Oundle RFC|Oundle Rugby Club]] – founded in 1976, has a senior team playing in the [[Regional 1 South East]] division, as well as junior and mini teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regional 1 South East |url=https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?competition=261&team=12182&season=2023-2024#table |website=EnglandRugby.com|access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref>

===Cricket===
*Oundle Town Cricket Club – founded in 1826 the 1st XI senior team currently play in the [[Northamptonshire Cricket League]] Premier division.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ncl.play-cricket.com/website/web_pages/244633|title=Northamptonshire Cricket League|website=ncl.play-cricket.com}}</ref>  They also have a ladies and girls teams as well as operating 6 junior teams.

===Hockey===
*Oundle Hockey Club – founded in 2012, the club has 1 Men's Team and 2 Ladies' Teams, along with a juniors section. The club currently plays in the Midlands Hockey League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://midlands.englandhockey.co.uk/|title=Midlands Hockey Home Page|date=12 July 2023|website=midlands.englandhockey.co.uk}}</ref> They currently play their matches at [[Oundle School]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oundlehockeyclub.com/|title=OUNDLE HOCKEY CLUB|website=OUNDLE HOCKEY CLUB}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Oundle |volume=20 |short=x}}
*[http://www.oundle.gov.uk Oundle Town Council]
*[http://www.oundlechronicle.co.uk Oundle Chronicle]
*[http://www.oundlestpeters.org.uk/ Oundle St Peter's]
*[https://www.oundletownfc.co.uk/ Oundle Town Football Club]
*[https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/oundlerfc Oundle Town Rugby Club]
*[http://oundletown.play-cricket.com/ Oundle Town Cricket Club]
*[https://www.oundlegands.org/ Oundle Gilbert & Sullivan Players]

{{Northamptonshire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Oundle| ]]
[[Category:Market towns in Northamptonshire]]
[[Category:Towns in Northamptonshire]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Northamptonshire]]
[[Category:North Northamptonshire]]