Historic Oak Apple Day commemorated in Northampton
Northampton celebrated the generosity of King Charles II who donated over 1,000 tons of timber to reconstruct All Saints Church and halved the town’s taxes for seven years following the Great Fire of Northampton.
Each year, the town remembers this act on Oak Apple Day, which marks the restoration of the monarchy when Charles II came to the throne on 29 May 1660. It was for centuries a public holiday and remained so until 1859. The name reflects the then future King’s famous hiding place in 1651, when he sought refuge from his roundhead enemies in an oak tree following the battle of Worcester.