Duddington Plaque Contains Our "Wyles" Ancestors!

Northants: Duddington [Area] War Memorials – Digitalised! (1.8.2025)

We have been travelling around Duddington and the surrounding area – research genealogical information for the local surname “Wyles”. Whilst carrying-out this vital historical investigation – we decided to gather data pertaining to the often forgotten War Memorials and Rolls of Honour. We include four such projects that we have completed this week (we are thinking of extending this to any area we find old Churches containing War Memorials).

Rockingham Castle - Battlements!

Rutland: Visiting Rockingham Castle! (29.7.2025)

Despite visiting Duddington (in Northants) regularly since 2009, we had never seen any signs for “Rockingham” – and wondered where this place was. Furthermore, whereas King Henry VIII used to frequent “Nonsuch” (in Sutton and Cheam – where we live) – I am told that King John (1166-1216) of Magna Carta fame, used to spend his leisure time staying at Rockingham Castle – which is near Rockingham village. He used to hunt in the local woods. Apparently, Henry VIII granted the castle (the Norman version of which is currently over 950-years old) to the Watson family (it was leased to Edward Watson in 1544). Prior to this, the general area the castle is now constructed upon possessed a Roman (a coin production industry) – and then a Saxon (Lord Bovi) – presence. The locale of Rockingham (probably the nearby village) is mentioned in the 1066 Doomsday Book – with the castle proper being built between 1066-1071.

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