Thrapston

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Thrapston
Thrapston shown within Northamptonshire
Population	4,855 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SP997784
District	East Northamptonshire
Shire county	Northamptonshire
Region	East Midlands
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	KETTERING
Postcode district	NN14
Dialling code	01832
Police	Northamptonshire
Fire	Northamptonshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
European Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Corby
List of places: UK • England • Northamptonshire

Coordinates: 52°23′38″N 0°32′06″W / 52.394, -0.535

Thrapston is a small town in Northamptonshire, England. It is the headquarters of the East Northamptonshire district, and in 2001 had a population of 4,855. By 2006, this was estimated to have risen to 5,702.

It is close to the River Nene and is on the junction of the A14 and the A45. Until the 1960s Thrapston had two railway stations. Thrapston (Midland) was on the Kettering to Cambridge route, and the former station and viaduct can be seen from the adjacent A14 road. Thrapston (Bridge Street) was on the former LNWR Northampton to Peterborough line.

The market charter was granted over 800 years ago in the year 1205, in exchange for two palfreys. This is celebrated every year with the town's charter fair, where the high street is closed and the people in the town get together to commemorate this event. A relative of George Washington, Sir John Washington lived in Chancery Lane within the town, and his wife is buried in the church. Sir John was brother to George Washington's great-grandfather.

Thrapston has two schools, Thrapston Primary and King John middle school, which serves children from four to thirteen. Thrapston Primary is for years reception to 4 and King John is for years 5 to 8. After this chilldren go to schools in different places, but not in Thrapston.