Museums

Decorated floor tile from St Andrew’s Priory. The three fish are the arms of Nicholas Lylling and represent a true and generous mind.

Lead downpipe bracket from Abington Manor House. It features the Thursby lion and was added to the house when John Harvey Thursby made his alterations.

John Harvey Thursby was the owner of Abington from 1736 to until his death in 1764. He resided at Abington with his wife Honor and their 11 children.

This map of the Abington estate was drawn up after acquisition of land by the Thursby family from the Barnards in 1669.

This portrait silhouette shows Dr Prichard, who established a private asylum at Abington in 1845. He was at the forefront of the non-restraint movement within asylum practice.

This Mrs Prichard was the wife of Dr Octavius Prichard, and had the role of superintendent at Abington Abbey asylum.

This jug was designed to hold beer from the Abington Brewery. The wicker surround would have made it easier to hold. It would have been refilled by the brewery and reused.

These shoes were made locally in the Manfield factory which provided employment for many living in the Abington area. The Manfield factory was built in 1892 opposite the park on the Wellingborough Road.

Original plaque from the mulberry tree planted in 1778 by the actor David Garrick to mark his friendship with Anne Thursby.

Abington Park was opened to the public in 1897 by Alderman H.E. Randall in celebration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Abington Park Museum followed, opening in 1899.

Abington Park has held numerous events and performances since it opened and has been a focus for Northampton’s celebrations.

Between 1908 and 1911, roller skating became very popular across Britain and the craze was dubbed ‘rinkomania’.

Since its creation Abington Park has been home to a wide range of sports facilities including bowls, football, cricket, tennis, and petanque as well as open space for individuals and groups to run, exercise and use the trim trail.

Race for Life Medal awarded to Victoria Davies for a 5 kilometre Charity Run in support of Cancer Research UK at Abington Park in 2013.

At Abington Abbey asylum patients were encouraged to take exercise in the grounds of the house. It was thought that the fresh air would help their treatment.