Welcome

to the

Rothwell Preservation Trust

We are the Charity dedicated to the preservation and restoration of historic buildings in the English town of Rothwell, Northamptonshire.

Our Trust was launched at a Public Meeting in Rothwell on 24 October 1985 where the proposal to formally establish the Trust received enthusiastic local support.

Known locally as “Rowell”, Rothwell is an ancient Royal Charter Town that, since 1204, holds an annual weeklong street Fair linked to Trinity Sunday and has a unique Charter Proclamation event. You can read more about the Rowell Fair HERE.

In particular, the Trust has responsibility for Rothwell’s iconic Market House. It is more than 450 years old and is unique to our town. As it stands at the centre, everyone in Rothwell knows and loves it. Currently, the Trust is very concerned about the condition of its roof, which leaks and needs replacing. Given that the Market House is a Grade I listed building, this is an expensive and time-consuming task. The building was formally granted ‘Heritage at Risk’ status by Historic England and first appeared in their ‘Heritage At Risk Register‘ on 14 November 2024.

The Trust is determined to ensure that our iconic Market House is restored to a condition to ensure it lasts (at least) another 450 years and is currently undertaking applications for Grants and considering a series of local fundraising events. See our Latest News page and subscribe for free to be kept up to date with all our activity

Our Properties

Looking for the free download? Click on ‘Learn more’

Take a bird’s eye tour of the Market House!

Our Trustees

The Trust would be nothing without its Trustees and they give their time freely and are unpaid. Everyone on the Board is local to Rothwell and knows the town and its history well.

A Word from our Chair, Matt Garner

“Rothwell’s historic buildings, including the Market House and Manor House, evoke a sense of timelessness. The intricate details, centuries-old stonework, and fascinating stories behind these structures create an enchanting atmosphere and as the Chair of Rothwell Preservation Trust, it makes me so proud to live in such an amazing town.

We take great care of the iconic Market House – a Grade I listed building in the heart of “Rowell”. Construction started in 1578 to the vision of Sir Thomas Tresham. The Manor House is another building in our portfolio. Although the lease for this was sold some years ago, we are very much involved with its heritage and how the building is used. We also own No.1, The Maltings, one of the earlier refurbishments of the Trust. We, as a Trust are passionate about our town. Over the coming years we have a lot planned for the historic Market House, not only restoring the roof but making it available to the public again. Rothwell Town Council are heavily involved and we’re working with them, and other organisations in Rothwell as a priority for continuing a friendly community.”