Grafton Regis

"GRAFTON-REGIS, a parish in the hundred of Cleley, county Northampton, 5 miles S.E. of Towcester, and 4½ N.W. of Stoney-Stratford, its post town. It is situated near the southern border of the county. The Grand Junction canal, the North-Western railway, and the main road between Northampton and Stoney-Stratford, pass through the parish. The Woodvilles for several generations had their seat here, and it was here that Edward IV. was privately married to Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Richard Woodville, and relict of Sir John Grey, of Groby. Henry VIIL bestowed a good portion of the lands on the founder of the Fitzroy family. Lace-making is a source of employment for the female portion of the population. The living is a rectory united with the rectory of Alderton, value £277, in the patronage of the lord chancellor. The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and contains monuments of the Woodville and other families. There is a National school. The Duke of Grafton, who takes his title from this place, is lord of the manor. Lord Scales, whose Proverbs were printed by Caxton, was born here. Markets and fairs were formerly held here, but for some years have fallen into disuse." [Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868 by Colin Hinson ©2010]