Northampton

Churches

This list includes parish churches and monasteries that have existed in the town. Details of nonconformist churches and chapels can be found in our Nonconformity page.

• All Saints History of the Church of All Saints, Northampton by R M Serjeantson [1901]
• All Saints Reconstructing the Lost Medieval Church of All Saints, Northampton by Steve Holder [2026]
• All Saints The Lost Heraldic Images of All Saints Church, Northampton by Steve Holder [2021] (page 39) An extensively illustrated article.
• St Andrew St Peters and Sir George Gilbert Scott by Graham Ward [2021] Biography of the Victorian architect who designed substantial work to the Workhouse and the churches of St Andrew, St Peter and Holy Sepulchre at Northampton.
• St Giles History of the Church of St Giles, Northampton by R M Serjeantson [1911]
• St Gregory The First Church of St Gregory, Northampton by Graham Ward [2023] The videos featured in the link include a talk about this 'lost' medieval parish located to the east of St Peter's.
• St James Abbey St James Abbey, Northampton by Andy Chapman [2022] Video about the history and excavations at the site of St James' Abbey, Northampton with specific reference to the building features and the many graves on site.
• St John A history of the Hospital of St John in Northampton by R M Serjeantson [1913]
• St Peter On the works now in progress at St Peter's, Northampton by Thomas James [1850]
• St Peter St Peters and Sir George Gilbert Scott by Graham Ward [2021] Biography of the Victorian architect who designed substantial work to the Workhouse and the churches of St Andrew, St Peter and Holy Sepulchre at Northampton.
• St Peter St Peter's Church and the Old Black Lion by Gareth Rees [2014]
• St Peter St Peter's through time
• St Peter St Peter’s, Marefair in the 12th century by John McNeil [2022]
• St Sepulchre On St Sepulchre's Church, Northampton by George Aycliffe Poole [1851]
• St Sepulchre On the Church of St Sepulchre's Northampton, with Especial reference to the Restoration of the Round by George Aycliffe Poole [1852]
• St Sepulchre History of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Northampton by J Charles Cox & R M Serjeantson [1897]
• St Sepulchre St Peters and Sir George Gilbert Scott by Graham Ward [2021] Biography of the Victorian architect who designed substantial work to the Workhouse and the churches of St Andrew, St Peter and Holy Sepulchre at Northampton.
• Northampton churches in general Victorian and Edwardian churches in Northampton

Maps of Northampton

• 1746 - Noble & Butler's plan of the town of Northampton
• Pubs in late-Victorian Northampton
• Street map of late-Victorian Northampton includes the locations of very small courts, squares and terraces.
• Ordnance Survey maps - see the Maps section of this site.

Public houses

'Glimpses of Old Northampton: Its Signs' was a series of articles published in 'Northamptonshire Notes and Queries' in the late-1880s which mentioned these public houses:

• First article The Cook's Arms, The Chequer, The Three Tuns, The Last, The Flying Horse, The Peacock and The Hind
• Second article Guy of Warwick, The Talbot, The Shoulder of Mutton, The Phoenix, The Black Periwig, The French Horn and German Flute and The Blue Boar
• Third article The Spread Eagle, The Golden Ball, The Trooper, The Pewter Dish, The Royal Oak, The Queen's Arms, The Boot and Slipper, The Crown, The Queen's Dragoons, The Old Duke of Clarence and The Leg of Mutton
• Fourth article The Peacock
• Fifth article The Saracen's Head, The Star, The White Lion, The Vine, The Bantam Cock, The Hen and Chickens, The Catharine Wheel, The Cock, The Two Brewers and The Stag's Head.

These items also refer to public houses in Northampton:

• Mayor's Choice, Northampton Detailed bill for a dinner at The Peacock Inn held when Jeremiah Briggs was elected Mayor in 1793.
• Old Black Lion, Marefair – Revealed! by Hannah Parham [2022] This video explores the past, present and future of the Old Black Lion, Marefair.
• The George Inn, Northampton Account of the connection between this inn and John Dryden.

Other topics

• A Missing Northampton Paper by Jeremy Black [1987] (page 339) 'Northampton Journal' was a newspaper published for a short time in 1722. It appears that no copies survive but the article does feature references to it that were posted in 'Northampton Mercury'.
• A review of the structure and date of the Iron Age hillfort rampart on Hunsbury Hill, Northampton by Andy Chapman [2024]
• A vaccine scare in 19th century Northampton by Andrew N Williams [2005]
• Approaches to the analysis of the topography, origins, growth and development of English medieval towns: case studies of selected town and their wider applicability by Michael Terence Shaw [2020] The text of this extensive case study of Northampton starts at page 120 of volume 1. The relevant illustrations, 71 in number, are on pages 74-147 of volume 2.
• Cromwell House by Tom Welsh [2023] (page 30) The history of this building, also known as Hazelrigg House, which stands on the south side of Marefair. 
• Customs of the Town of Northampton Extracts from the Corporation's 'Liber Custumarum'.
• Excavation within the Outer Bailey of Northampton Castle, 2013-15 by Andy Bailey [2021]
• Excavations at the corner of Kingswell Street and Woolmonger Street, Northampton by Val Fryer [2008]
• Flint deposition in the vicinity of the Dallington Neolithic Causewayed Enclosure, Northampton by Andy Chapman [2019]
• Historical Memorials of Northampton by Rev C H Hartshorne [1848] Based largely on unpublished records, this book covers topics that include Municipal records, the Castle, Religious foundations, the Mint and the Great Fire of 1675.
• History of the County Buildings of Northamptonshire by Christopher A Markham [1885] This work is about the County Gaol, the County Hall, the Judges' Lodgings and County Bridewells. There are also short references to gaols at Brackley, Daventry, Kettering, Oundle and Peterborough.
• In search of Northampton Castle by Andy Chapman [2021] An overview of excavations at Northampton Castle since the 19th century.
• Incised memorial pillar found at Northampton Description of a stone found at Wood Hill and apparently of medieval date (also on page 228).
• Late Saxon and Saxo-Norman occupation beneath the Outer Bailey of Northampton Castle by Andy Chapman [2021]
• Lease of a farm in Northampton Fields, 1752 Summary of a lease from Benjamin Charlewood to Thomas Pearson.
• Living Opposite to the Hospital of St John: Excavations in Medieval Northampton 2014 by Andy Bailey [2021]
• Northampton and St George's Chapel, Windsor by Shelagh M Bond [1955] (page 37)
• Northampton and the American Civil War by David Waller [1990] (page 137)
• Northampton Before the Conquest by Andy Chapman [2021]
• Northampton Civic Seals by Steve Holder [2025] Illustrated discussion of the Reeve's Seal, which dates from before 1200.
• Northampton in the Late Middle Ages by Evan T Jones, Jane Laughton and Peter Clark [2000] An overview of the town in the 15th century.
• Northampton in 1524 by Alan Dyer [1979] (page 75) Analysis of the evidence of the size, social and economic structure of the town provided by records of the great subsidy of 1524-5.
• Northampton Racecourse by Graham Ward [2020]
• Northampton Rebuilt, 1685 An order by the commissioners relating to a house in the Market square.
• Old Houses in Northampton II Illustrated description of the 'Welsh House' in Market Square.
• Northampton Transport Heritage
• Northampton's County Halls by Richard Blacklee [2024] Video about Northampton's County Hall and associated buildings from the 17th century up to the present day.
• Northampton's Local Legislation: 1430-1988 by R J B Morris [1989] (page 73)
• Northampton's Medieval Guildhalls by John Williams [1983] (page 5)
• Old house in Marefair [1884] Detailed description of Hazelrigg house.
• Prehistoric Northampton: A circular ring ditch and flint scatters by Andy Chapman [2021]
• Rambles Roundabout and Poems by George James de Wilde, edited by Edward Dicey [1872] Items in a 'romantic' style composed by the Editor of Northampton Mercury. The book includes chapters about Northampton.
• Researching inequality – Northampton and the Welfare State by Graham Ward {2025] This introduces two studies of the lives of working-class households in Northampton and other towns which were published in 1915 and 1925. Particular topics addressed by linked posts about Northampton in that era include parks, libraries, schools, work, housing and health.
• Rival Sweeps, 1768 by Victor A Hatley [1982] (page 340) Advertisements and personal details of individuals offering chimney-sweeping services.
• Sad and lamentable news from Northampton [1675] A contemporary account of the fire.
• Some aspects of Northampton's History, 1815-51 by Victor A Hatley [1965] (page 243)
• South side of Market Square and Mercers' Row in 1768 and 1831 Plans with names of occupiers. There is also a reference to these plans in a later article in Northamptonshire Notes & Queries.
• The Airship Scare at Northampton, 1909 by Victor A Hatley [1984] (page 114)
• The Architectural Development of Northampton Town Hall: the first two phases by Susan Moss [2023] (page 64)
• The Arms of the Borough of Northampton
• The Civil War Defences of Northampton by Glenn Foard [1994] (page 4)
• The Demolition of Northampton's Walls, July 1662 by R L Greenall [1978] (page 83) includes a detailed account of money received and paid for the work.
• The English Fire Courts and the American Right to Civil Jury Trial by Jay Tidmarsh [2016] (PDF) contains many references to the Fire Court which operated after the 1675 Fire at Northampton and to other relevant publications.
• The Forty Men of Northampton's First Customal and the development of Borough Government in Late 12th Century Northampton by John H Williams [1986] (page 215)
• The House in Gold Street Illustrated description of a 17th-century house.
• The House in St Giles Street Illustrated description of a 17th-century house.
• The House in the Drapery Illustrated description of a 17th-century house.
• The joy to bless and to relieve mankind: Child healthcare at Northampton General Infirmary 1744 by Andrew N Williams [2006]
• The late Saxon town defences at Green Street, Northampton: a review of the evidence and a radiocarbon date by Andy Chapman [2021]
• The Prehistory of Northampton by Andy Chapman [2025]
• The Liber custumarum : the book of the ancient usages and customes of the town of Northampton from the earliest record to 1448 edited by Christopher A Markham [1895] This includes a preface by John Taylor which explains the history, significance and scope of the original manuscript.
• The Northampton Boot and Shoe Arbitration Board Before 1914 by J H Porter [1979] (page 93)
• The Northampton Historic Pageant of 1925 by Richard Foulkes [1993] (page 410)
• The Rebuilding of Northampton by H M Colvin [1973] (page 3) Evidence of the role of Henry Bell when the town was built after the fire in 1675.
• The Rebuilding of Northampton: A Supplementary Note by Victor A Hatley [1974] (page 70) Details of some individuals from the era of the fire in 1675.
• The Records of the Borough of Northampton volume 1 edited by Christopher A Markham [1898]
• The Records of the Borough of Northampton volume 2 edited by J Charles Cox [1898]
• The State of Northampton from the beginning of the Fire Sept. 20th 1675 to Nov. 5th by Edward Pearse [1675]
• Three Midland Towns: Northampton, Leicester, Nottingham by J Simmons [1963] (page 36)
• Travels of Cosmo the Third by Lorenzo Magalotti [1821] Account of the visit to England in 1669 by the Cosmo de'Medici who was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1670 until his death in 1723. Pages 244 to 247 describe his visit to Northampton. Facing page 245 is a detailed view of the town from the south, particularly important for understanding Northampton as it was shortly before the Fire of 1675.

Signposts

The other categories in our Signposts collection also contain material about Northampton. Those particularly well-stocked with information about the history of the town are:

• Court records
• Medical Officer of Health reports
• Nonconformity
• Poll books and constituencies