Ampthill History - Contents

Early History | Katherine of Aragon | Ampthill Castle Archaeological Dig | Richard Nicolls - The Man that named New York | Houghton House | Ampthill's Almshouses | Ampthill History Forum

Early History

The name 'Ampthill' is of Anglo-Saxon origin, as the first settlement was called 'Aemethyll', which literally means either 'ant-heap' or 'ant infested hill'. In 1242, King Henry III confirmed the right to hold a market on Thursday's in the town and this remains a fixture of life in Ampthill to this day.

Katherine of Aragon (1485-1536)

The First Wife of Henry VIII Henry VIII was closely associated with Ampthill and brought his court to Ampthill Castle on many occasions. The Castle was constructed by the uncle of Henry V, Sir John Cornwall, in the 15th Century. However, Ampthill is most memorably linked with Queen Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII. Henry married Katherine in 1509; he was 18 and she was 24 years old. The marriage lasted nearly 20 years, but in 1527 Henry decided to apply for an annulment. Over the next 6 years turmoil ensued, culminating in Katherine's trial in 1533 at Dunstable Priory. During this year Katherine lived at Ampthill Castle. On 23rd May 1533, she heard that the court had declared her marriage null and void. Additionally, she was proclaimed Princess Dowager. Despite her protestations she was later that year removed to Buckden and then Kimbolton Castle, where she died in 1536, aged 51. Ampthill Castle regrettably no longer exists, but Katherine's time in Ampthill has been commemorated, with the erection of Katherine's Cross, in Ampthill Park.

Coincidentally, Katherine's Cross gained additional fame in the latter part of the 20th Century, as it was at the base of this monument that the 'Golden Hare' was buried, as detailed in Kit Williams book 'Masquerade'. In fact, this event has been recognized in the weather vane, placed atop Ampthill Library, in Dunstable Street. To discover more information about these two fascinating aspects of Ampthill History, you may wish to visit the 'Henry VIII & the Tudors' Web Site or the 'Masquerade' Web Site.

Ampthill Castle Archaeological dig in Ampthill Park

Download: Ampthill Castle Archaeological Dig Report

During July 2009 an archaeological dig took place in Ampthill Park near to the newly renovated Katherine's Cross. The Ampthill Castle Community Archaeology Excavations was a partnership project and involved the Central Beds Council Archaeologists (from the Conservation and Design Team), English Heritage and the Ampthill and District Archaeological and Local History Society (ADALHS). This group appointed Northamptonshire Archaeology to lead the archaeological excavations.

This group were working on behalf of Ampthill Town Council and the Greensand Trust who haf secured a fund of £19,250 to pay for the project. Ampthill Town Council received £10,000 from 'Awards for All' and the Greensand Trust have received £9,250 from the English Heritage Regional Capacity Building Fund.

The first objective of the project was to characterise and define the nature and extent of the archaeological deposits relating to Ampthill Castle, a scheduled monument within Ampthill Park. This mansion/palace was the home of Katherine of Aragon during her divorce from Henry VIII and at one time a sumptuous dwelling. There were earthworks on the site that had always been assumed to be the remains of the palace but recent geophysical survey work by the ADALHS suggest that the site may in fact be on a different alignment and that there may be the remains of an earlier motte and bailey castle on the site as well. Four trenches were excavated at different locations on the site to try and answer the questions raised by the geophysical survey and to try and provide greater information about the site that could be used to promote the history of the Park and Town.

The second objective was to encourage community participation in the project. Volunteers from the ADALHS, Greensand Trust, Ampthill Town Council and local community all worked alongside the archaeologists. The site contained a series of constantly updated information boards and daily talks were held to inform the public of the latest finds. In addition an Open Day took place on Saturday 25th July and there were guided tours of the trenches by the archaeologists (the video below is of one of those tours). A poster display with the results of the dig will be created for the early autumn and a public presentation will take place at the end of the project.

A tour around the Ampthill Castle Archaeological Dig by the Archaeologists of Northamptonshire Archaeology

Richard Nicolls (1624-1672)

The First Governor of Colonial New York The Historic Parish Church of St. Andrew's dated back to the 10th Century and is especially notable for the marble memorial to commemorate the life of Colonel Richard Nicolls - the man responsible for giving New York its name. In 1664, King Charles II gave his brother, James, the then Duke of York, all of the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Delaware. Richard Nicolls was given the task of capturing the Dutch Colonial City of New Amsterdam, on Long Island, which lay within this swathe of land. He did so, by threatening to destroy the Dutch fort, on what is now Manhattan Island, with a flotilla of British warships. The Dutch capitulated, and Nicolls upon accepting the surrender, renamed the city after his commanding officer, the Duke of York. He subsequently became the first colonial governor of New York. Nicolls returned to Ampthill in 1667, but was later killed at the naval Battle of Solebay (off Southwold, in Suffolk) on 25th May, 1672. His body was brought back to Ampthill and the cannonball, which is said to have killed him, is embedded in the pediment of his memorial 

For further details on Richard Nicolls, visit the 'Long Island History' Web Site, the New York Mayors Web Site and a Listing of Colonial Governors of New York.

Houghton House - John Bunyan's 'House Beautiful'

John Bunyan's 'House Beautiful' in 'Pilgrim's Progress' Houghton House, widely acclaimed as the inspiration for John Bunyan's 'House Beautiful' in 'Pilgrims Progress' (Published in 1678), is located to the north east of the town. It is contended that Bunyan used the landscape of Bedfordshire, as the backdrop for his classic allegorical tale. Unfortunately, only ruins now remain of this once great house. Further information can be gained by visiting the following Houghton House Web Page.

Ampthill's Almshouses

Ampthill has the second largest Conservation Area in Bedfordshire and part of this area comprises the Church Square, with its historic almshouses. Apart from the road markings and two or three lamp standards, the view of St. Andrew's Church and the almshouses has changed little over the past few centuries. Some of the almshouses date back to the 15th Century. The administration and conservation of these buildings is the responsibility of eight trustees, all of whom are local people, who successfully run 'The Ampthill Feoffee Estate Charity' (Registered Charity No. 200188). The almshouses have recently undergone a programme of refurbishment and modernization in order to safeguard their future and to make them more comfortable for the residents. The overall cost has been £300,000, met largely from local fundraising and grants.

Ampthill History Forum - The Home of Ampthill's Rich History

• Website: www.ampthillhistory.co.uk
• Publications: 
  • "The White Hart - Ampthill's Historic Coaching Inn" by Andrew Underwood (2008)
  • "Ampthill in My Bones: Essays and Incidents Remembered" by
  • Andrew Underwood (2005)
  • "The Knoll: A Mirror for Ampthill" by Barry Dackombe (2000)
  • "17th Century Ampthill & Hugh Reeve 'its true & lawfull Parson'' by Andrew Underwood (2000)
  • "Around Ampthill" by Andrew Underwood (2nd Edition, 1997)
  • "Ampthill Church" by Andrew Underwood (1996)

All the above are available at Ampthill Antiques Emporium