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Blue plaque trail brings Daventry's history to life

Martin Heath/BBC Cream-coloured wall of pub with "The Saracens Head" in large blue letters above the windows. A blue plaque is attached to the wallMartin Heath/BBC
Martin Heath/BBC Timber-framed two-storey building with shop window on ground floor and flowers in the foregroundMartin Heath/BBC
The Saracens Head, first recorded in 1622 as a coaching inn and post office, is now Grade II* listed
Seen by many as Daventry's oldest building, 3 High Street was recorded as a merchant's house in the 15th Century

A trail of 30 blue plaques has been launched to celebrate a Northamptonshire town's history.

The plaques in Daventry reveal the stories behind buildings which are now shops and pubs.

The trail made its debut at a street party which featured a walking tour, a barrel organ and a horse and carriage.

Organisers said owners of buildings in the town had been very keen to take part.

Martin Heath/BBC Grace Magee with long brown hair wearing a petrol blue dress, Lawrence Wheeler with short white hair wearing a long red coat, and Jennifer Taylor-Lee wearing a tiara and a white dress with a blue sashMartin Heath/BBC
Lawrence Wheeler and Grace Magee were granted an audience with Queen Victoria (Jennifer Taylor-Lee) at the launch

Grace Magee, from Discover Daventry, who helped set up the trail, said: "It's taken just shy of two years.

"Many of the buildings are Grade I [or] Grade II listed, so we've had to make sure we've got the right planning in place."

She added that the owners and tenants of the buildings on the trail had been "really eager" to take part.

Martin Heath/BBC Sean Lightning in tweed jacket and breeches with a brown bowler hat and brown boots and Alison in top hat and black dress alongside a carriage pulled by a plastic horseMartin Heath/BBC
Sean and Alison Lightning brought their horse and carriage all the way from Shropshire for the launch

Lawrence Wheeler, 80, has been involved in the town for most of his life, in roles ranging from the lead vocalist of a band called The Mavericks to the owner of a hotel and a nursing home.

He recently launched his autobiography, From Rock 'n' Roll to Bedpans, which raises money for local charities, and he has helped to organise the plaques in the town.

"Daventry's been fantastic, and I just like to put back in to the town, to appreciate what it's done for us," he said.

"Having [worked on the trail] for the last couple of years, you read more into the town and the buildings. I have nothing but praise for the town."

A leaflet showing the trail is available from the Sheaf Street Health Store.

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