James John Roughton
The Roughton Gates at the entrance to the Parish Church
James John Roughton
He qualified as a doctor in 1846, and set up his practice in Kettering soon after. His contributions to the town included founding a free cottage hospital for the poor in one of his own houses, as well as being instrumental in the setting up of the General Hospital in 1897. From 1872 he was chairman of the Local Board and helped improve the town's water supply, sewerage, drainage, street lighting, waste removal, slaughterhouses and market hygiene.
He was described as having 'in his make-up a full measure of the milk of human kindness'.
A keen sportsman, he helped found the Kettering Cricket Club. He died in 1910 at the age of 86, still in practice.