The park contains the ruins of the former village of Abington, the site of a medieval manor house with a mill attached, mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086.
The Abington gallows used for the five hangings in 1612 following the Northamptonshire witch trials, amongst the first in England to use trial by ducking stool, are believed to have been situated at the crossroads in Abington Park.
The village was enclosed and depopulated when the manor was enlarged and parklands created by the Thursby family in the late 17th century.