Complex sentence: With the Norman conquest of England, the town rose to national significance: its geographical location in the centre of England made Northampton a valuable strategical point for government and as a convenient meeting place for political, social, ecclesiastical and military events.
Split into simpler sentences: With the Norman conquest of England, the town rose to national significance. Andrew, Martin: "Northampton" The Francis Frith Collection, 2002 The town's geographical location in the centre of England made it a valuable strategical point for government and as a convenient meeting place for political, social, ecclesiastical and military events.