Great Brington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Brington |
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 Great Brington
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| OS grid reference | SP665650 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Northampton |
| Postcode district | NN7 |
| Dialling code | 01604 |
| Police | Northamptonshire |
| Fire | Northamptonshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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Great Brington is a small village in Northamptonshire, England. It is part of the larger area called Brington civil parish. In 2011, about 200 people lived here. The local church, called St Mary the Virgin, is an important part of the village.
The name 'Brington' means 'Farm or settlement connected with Bryni'.
Contents
A Village with Royal Connections
Great Brington is famous for its link to the Spencer family. This family owns Althorp House, a large estate just outside the village. Diana, Princess of Wales grew up at Althorp House.
History of the Spencer Family in Brington
The Spencer family's story in Great Brington began in 1508. A man named John Spencer bought the Althorp estate. He had been using the land to graze his sheep since the 1480s. He liked the land so much that he decided to buy it and build a new house.
In 1511, John Spencer bought even more land. This included the villages of Little Brington and Great Brington. He also bought the parish church of St Mary the Virgin from Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset.
Many members of the Spencer family are buried at St Mary's church. This includes Diana's father, the 8th Earl Spencer, who passed away in 1992.
How Princess Diana Affected the Village
When Princess Diana died, it brought many changes to Great Brington. More people visited the area because of her connection to Althorp House. For example, the local pub changed its name from The Fox and Hounds to the Althorp Coaching Inn. The post office also started offering currency exchange services to help tourists.
Exploring the Area
The Macmillan Way, a long walking path, goes right through Great Brington. This path is great for hikers and people who enjoy nature.
Nearby Places
Great Brington is close to other small settlements. These include Little Brington, Nobottle, and Long Buckby.
Famous People from Great Brington
Many interesting people have connections to Great Brington.
- Lawrence Washington (1565-1616) is buried in St Mary's Church. He was the great-great-great-grandfather of George Washington. George Washington later became the first president of the United States.
- Betsy Baker (1842–1955) was born in Great Brington. She was known as the world's oldest living person for a time. She lived to be 113 years old!
- The famous disc jockey and television presenter Jo Whiley also comes from the village.
Images for kids
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St Mary the Virgin's Church
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St Mary the Virgin's Church from the west
