Mary Magdalene Church

Geddington

General

The village of some 1500 inhabitants is located in the North of Northamptonshire nestled in the valley of the river Ise.  It has been a populated site since prehistory but it was in medieval times that the village became an important centre. Indeed Plantagenet Kings hunted in the surrounding area. To visit the village website click here

Eleanor of Castille

Eleanor was born in the Los Heulgas Abbey in Burgos, Spain in 1244. She was one of the many children of Ferdinand III King of Castille and Leon. At this same Abbey in 1254 she married Edward, who on the death of Henry III was to become Edward I, the most powerful of all the Plantagenet Kings. He was 15 and she was 9.

Although the match was made for political reasons their relationship became unusually close and she travelled everywhere with Edward and even accompanied him on a four year crusade. Their marriage resulted in eleven children born between 1264 and 1284.

History records that both stayed on many occasions at their royal palace at Geddington attending the church (originally Saxon but it was the Norman’s who created the Church we see today) and enjoying hunting on the Chase.

On 28^th November 1290, while on her way to join the King in Scotland the Queen was taken gravely ill and died at Harby, Nr Lincoln. Her body was taken to and entombed in Westminster Abbey. The King was so grief stricken he gave orders that every place where her bier had rested, a cross be erected in her memory. In total there were 12 crosses but today only three remain. The one at Geddington is in best condition and represents her love for the area and that the beir rested here on 7^th December 1290. A picture of this forms the menu frame for this Website.

To those that came after her she left the Hollyhock that grows in perfusion in Northern Spain. Legend has it that she brought seeds here to remind her of her home land and many now grow wild in the locality.

Our Fire Tender is named Queen Eleanor in honour of her more famous name sake.

Besides raising money for local needs we turn our hands to most things in support of the village including :

York Augustus trophy (The Trundle): In October 2001 the first running of this race took place. York Augustus Hopkins was a farmer who lived 100 yeas ago. Two descendents are leading members of GVFB and it was decided to revive the tradition of sending a barrel of beer to the top of the Chase after harvest had been brought in, for the benefit of farm workers. The contents would be consumed under what is today known as Beer Barrel Oak. GVFB won in a time of 15 minutes 36 seconds.

The second running in 2002 over a different course around the village was also won by GVFB in 7 minutes 54 Seconds only to be controversially penalized by 2 minutes for an unknown rule infringement and relegated to second place behind The Corby Police team who completed the course in 9 minutes 32 seconds.
The course record now stands at 7 minutes 15 seconds set in 2004 by Kettering Rugby Club.

The Squirt

As well as the above there is the annual Boxing Day “squirt”. Firemen can be seen doing mysterious things down at the ford. A hawser is suspended over the Ise with a beer barrel hung from it. GVFB are joined by Kettering Fire and Rescue and each team tries to push the barrel with hose jet powered by their engines three times over the heads of the opposition.

After the event with plenty of money raised for charity we indulge in our favourite occupation. Indeed all of the above activities afford the loyal men of the Brigade the opportunity to partake of a small glass or two.