Bowling Green Road, Kettering - 01536 416 795 customerservices@kettering.gov.uk

Burton Latimer is a town in North Northamptonshire, England, approximately 3.1 miles (5.0 km) southeast of Kettering and 4.5 miles north of Wellingborough. At the 2021 census, its population was 10,444. The name Burton derives from the Old English burhtun meaning 'settlement at the fort'. Burton (Latimer) appears in three entries in the Domesday Book of 1086.

The second part of the town's name is derived from the le Latimer family who lived there in the 13th century. The first part of the name usually means fortified farmstead or farmstead near a fortification. Before the arrival of the Latimers, it was known as 'Burtone'.

Burton Latimer grew in the 19th century around the ironstone quarrying, clothing and footwear industries. A watermill used for grinding corn was converted and used at various times in the 19th century for the manufacture of silk and worsted and for carpet-weaving, followed by its conversion to a steam mill to make chicory, mustard, animal foodstuffs and flour. The mill was acquired in the 1930s and became the home of Weetabix, which is also produced in Corby.

Ironstone quarrying began in about 1872 to the north of the town, to the south of the Kettering, Thrapston and Huntingdon Railway. More quarries were started in the west in the vicinity of Polwell Lane and more extensively on the east side of the town. The last pits ceased production of iron ore in 1921. The ore was taken by 3 ft (914 mm) gauge tramways to the mainline railways. At first the tramways were worked by horses but steam locomotives were introduced in 1891. The quarry near Polwell Lane was re-opened in 1925 for the extraction of ganister. The tramway to the main railway from this quarry was operated by small diesel locomotives. The quarry ceased production in 1983.

By 1885, the first four clothing factories had opened, followed in 1898 by the first shoe factory, and Burton grew rapidly to become a small, thriving light-industrial town.

By 2000 the town's new bypass and the building of the A14 made the town attractive again as a manufacturing and distribution centre. High-profile national firms like Versalift, Alpro Soya and Abbeyboard have based themselves on the north side of town.

In the 2020s, more manufacturing and distribution centres have been erected on the north side of Burton Latimer, such as the recently completed establishment of 'Symmetry Park' and the other warehouses built at the Kettering Gateway.

A notable building in the town is the parish church, dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, which was consecrated in 1147. The Norman church was remodelled and added to at various times up to about 1310. It was restored and the tower rebuilt in 1866.[6] It contains a number of medieval wall paintings, a 15th-century chancel screen and some monumental brasses. The oldest of the latter is located between the south arcade and chancel screen and features the coat of arms of the Boyville family; it was almost certainly placed there in the early 16th century to commemorate Richard Boyville, his wife Gresyll and their children.

The war memorial, currently located at the corner of Church Street and High Street was erected in 1922. It has moved locations a couple times but now remains where it was first erected.

The town is home to the land-owning Harpur family, who have owned the Grade I listed Burton Latimer Hall since 1760, together with other land around the town. Burton Latimer Hall was built using the same light-toned stone as used in buildings in the north-east part of the town. It is rumoured that a secret tunnel connects Burton Latimer Hall and the nearby St Mary’s Church, but it has never been found.

There is a Jacobean House, built in 1622, which was formerly a school. On the front of this house, a stone tablet states: "This house was built 1622 the freschoole was founded by thomas burbanke and margaret his wife 1587 memoria. ivsti. benedicta. pro".

Burton Latimer Pocket Park was established on the riverbank in 1995. The 11-acre plot of land houses many different species of animals and is a popular place for recreational fishing. A duck race and fête is held at the park each June.