About Towcester in Northamptonshire

Towcester is a town in South Northamptonshire, England. The town is situated on the River Tove, about 5 miles (8 km) from junction 15 of the M1 motorway and about 12 miles (19 km) from Northampton and Milton Keynes. Towcester has a population of about 5,000 people.

The town is an ancient one, having been settled by the Romans who built a town here called Lactodurum. The name Towcester is thought to derive from a Saxon word meaning "the crossing place".

The town grew up around the river crossing and was an important stopping point for travellers. In medieval times it was a market town and had a weekly market which is still held today. The market is held on Thursdays and is one of the largest in the county.

The town has a number of historic buildings including the Church of St Lawrence which dates from the 12th century, and the Market Cross which was built in 1610. The town also has a number of interesting shops and pubs.

Towcester is well known for its racecourse which hosts both National Hunt and flat racing. The course is situated on the outskirts of the town and has a capacity of around 20,000 people.