A new sign on the village green depicting Kingsthorpe’s history has been formally unveiled by Sally Beardsworth. Two and a half years of planning, designing and creating the sign involved builders, blacksmiths, artists and stonemasons and the local community. Children from Kingsthorpe Primary school put together a time capsule encased in the sign.

The sign was funded by donations from the Kingsthorpe Manor and Town Trust and Sally Beardsworth’s ‘empowering councillors’ fund.

The County Council have new plans to ease traffic congestion on the Harborough Rd between the Cock Hotel and Welford Rd. Proposals include carriageway widening to allow easier traffic flow, more effective traffic signals and the re-positioning of pedestrian crossings. Congestion in this area has led to it being declared an air quality amangement area due to the pollution. Anything that can be done to improve the flow of traffic while also making better provision for pedestrians and cyclists will be welcome.

Have your say on the proposals at one of the public exhibitions atKingsthorpe Methodist Church. Friday Sept. 18th 11am-2pm, Saturday September 19th 11am-2pm and Thursday 24th September 4pm-7pm.

Heritage Open days this year are turning into a heritage open weekend with historic places all over Northampton open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11th-13th September.

In Kingsthorpe, there will be an exhibition on Thornton Park in the Community Centre in Mill Lane on Saturday and Sunday 12th & 13th September 2.30pm-4.30pm. Trinity Church, Balmoral Rd, one of last built by local architect Matthew Holding, will open Friday 2pm-4pm and Saturday 10am-6pm. St. John the Baptist, our ancient village church will open 2pm-5pm Friday, 10am-5pm saturday and noon- 6pm on Sunday.

Throughout Northampton, other building are open, with an antiques fair on the Market Square and a family history exhibition in the ex servicemen’s club in Sheep St. For more information visit the Northampton Heritage Open Days website. There is much more to see in Northampton than the town is ever given credit for!