The UK is blessed with many interesting midsized towns, one of which is Kettering. Located in the county of Northamptonshire in the centre of the British Isles, on the banks of the River Ise, it is the primary town in the Borough of Kettering.
The town’s original industry was based upon the manufacture of boots and shoes. During the nineteenth century the development of the UK’s rail network allowed other industries such as clothing and engineering to grow around the area. Today these have all but disappeared leaving distribution and service industries to be the major employers.
The earliest recorded history of Kettering dates back to an unwilled Roman settlement in the fourth century AD. Since then the settlement has steadily grown. It was not until 1227 that Henry III granted the town its market status. Sadly there are no longer such markets; instead there are various shopping centres and arcades.
Historically the town has a long association with the American air force as many pilots and servicemen were stationed here during the Second World War.
The latest data shows that the town has a population of nearly 90,000 and is widely believed to be one of the largest growth areas outside of the south east of England and the Capital. Its location in north Northamptonshire has meant that it is ideally positioned as a commuter town serving the local cities of Leicester and Coventry.
It is due to its location that the town currently has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the UK. There are many employers in the region that have strong balance books and are not affected by the downturn in the economy.
The climate in Kettering is not as extreme as in some areas of the UK. Though the temperatures regularly plummet in winter, the area is blessed with long dry summers.
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UTA FRONTRUNNER TRAIN
