a parliamentary borough of England, the county town of Northamptonshire, stands on the left bank of the Nen, here crossed by a wooden bridge, 40 miles N.E. of Northampton, and 76 N. by W. of London. It consists of several streets, close to the river, straight, well paved, and lined with good houses. To the west a suburb has been erected, which contains many handsome houses. The most important public building is the cathedral, a fine old specimen of Norman and early English architecture. It is in the form of a cross, of the following dimensions,—length, 476 feet; breadth of the nave and aisles, 78 feet; height of the ceiling, 78 feet; breadth at the transepts, 203 feet; breadth of the transepts, 69 feet; height of the central tower, 150 feet. Its most striking feature is the west front, which is an addition to the nave, and consists of three pointed arches 80 feet high, supported by clustered pillars, and surmounted by lofty pediments and pinnacles, while at each end rises a turret with a spire. The interior is beautiful and well proportioned, but contains few monuments or shrines, as it was stripped of most of its ornaments during the civil wars. Katherine of Aragon and Mary, Queen of Scots, were both buried in Peterborough cathedral; but no monuments mark the places; and the remains of the latter were afterwards removed to Westminster Abbey. At the west front of the cathedral is a court, containing various well-preserved remains of ancient monastic edifices. Besides the cathedral, Peterborough contains several handsome public buildings. The parish church is a large stone edifice; the town-hall is small but neat; and the corn exchange, built in 1848, is a handsome specimen of the Italian style, and contains a large market-room lighted from the roof. There is also a jail, and house of correction of Norman architecture. The Dissenting places of worship include Wesleyan, Independent, Baptist, and Primitive Methodist chapels. There is an endowed cathedral grammar school, which had, in 1864, thirty-three scholars; another endowed school, a national school, infant schools, mechanics' institution with a library, and a savings-bank. The benevolent establishments comprise a dispensary, an infirmary, almshouses, &c. The trade of Peterborough consists chiefly of corn and malt, brought down the Nen from the interior for export; and of coal, timber, bricks, and stone, which are imported. The principal manufactory is a large steam flour-mill recently erected. Peterborough is the seat of a bishop; and the dean and chapter have a certain jurisdiction over the town, as there is no corporation. Since the time of Edward VI., the borough has returned two members to Parliament. An abbey was founded here by Peada, the son of Penda, King of Mercia, during the time of the Heptarchy. Its original name was Medeshamsteade; but this was changed to that of Burgh, Gildensburgh, or Peterburgh, in the time of Edgar, when it was restored, after having been destroyed by the Danes in the ninth century. A village soon began to rise around it; but in 1116 this, as well as a large part of the abbey, was destroyed by fire. The restoration of the monastic buildings was soon commenced, and gradually carried on for a long time; and it was not till the beginning of the sixteenth century that the cathedral assumed its present aspect. At the time of the Reformation, Peterborough was one of the most magnificent of the ecclesiastical establishments, and was chosen by Henry VIII., as the seat of one of the new bishoprics. The monastic buildings were then preserved; but they were destroyed in the time of Charles I., and the cathedral itself much injured. Pop. 8672.

Earl of. See Mordaunt, Charles.