Newport Pagnell

Modern development hides a long history at Newport Pagnell, which local archaeological finds indicate was settled in the Iron Age and during the Roman occupation. It was an important administrative centre, and in the 10th century the Royal Mint was established here. Lace-making was once an important industry, and the town is also associated with the car-maker Aston Martin, which started life in the 1820s as a maker of coaches for the nobility. The marque will be forever associated with James Bond, and as we went to press one of the original Bond DB5s – FMB 7B – was due to be sold at auction, with an estimate in excess of five million dollars.