| Country: | England |
| Official Name: | Ringstead |
| Coordinates: | 52.3687°N -0.5547°W |
| Population: | 1,461 |
| Population Ref: | (2011 census) |
| Unitary England: | North Northamptonshire |
| Lieutenancy England: | Northamptonshire |
| Region: | East Midlands |
| Constituency Westminster: | Corby |
| Post Town: | Kettering |
| Postcode District: | NN14 |
| Postcode Area: | NN |
| Dial Code: | 01933 |
| Os Grid Reference: | SP9875 |
| Static Image: | New Inn, Ringstead (geograph 2546340).jpg |
| Static Image Caption: | New Inn |
Ringstead is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England, forming part of North Northamptonshire. It is located approximately 15miles north-east of Northampton. At the time of the 2011 census, the parish's population was 1,461 people.[1] The local primary school is situated next to St Mary's Church, which is host to the Ringstead Flower Festival.
The village's name means 'Ring place'. The meaning of the name here is obscure.[2]
Ringstead was the birthplace of:
According to tradition, the entrance to St Mary's churchyard has been haunted by the ghost of a village girl, Lydia Atley, who disappeared in 1850. What were thought to be her skeletal remains were unearthed in 1864 in a local orchard; the village butcher, Weekly Ball, was tried for Lydia's murder but acquitted because it proved impossible to conclusively identify the skeleton as that of the missing girl.[3]
During the 1980s, major sand and gravel excavations took place all around Ringstead leaving many man-made lakes and islands.
In 2007, Ringstead, Hargrave, Raunds and Stanwick were legally united as "The 4 Spires Benefice", with each village retaining its own church.[4]
The following buildings and structures are listed by Historic England as of special architectural or historic interest.[5]
The village has a relatively successful sporting tradition in football. They have had a team representing the village for over 100 years since it was established in 1896. Ringstead Rangers includes a men's team, a men's reserve team, an under 17s, under 14s and an under 9s team. All the teams play their home matches at Ringstead Recreational Ground and their traditional strip colours consist of red and black. The teams have been known to sport various other strip colours, especially in their away strips, including orange, blue and pink.
Activities at the Village Social Club include pool; the team currently plays in Division 3 of the East Northamptonshire League. It also has a skittles team and facilities for darts, bingo and dominoes.
The River Nene runs past the village in a series of locks. A National Lottery funded cycle, bridle and footpath track runs between Stanwick Lakes and Islip, the Nene Way running through the area all offering easy walking. Ringstead has a very large boating community and features over 250 river craft moored at Willy Watt Marina and Blackthorn Lake Marina.
Kinewell Lake is a local nature reserve and part of the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest, Ramsar wetland site of international importance and Special Protection Area under the European Communities Birds Directive.