Northamptonshire History


This page will take you on a very brief tour of Northamptonshire through the ages. We have broken down the county history into periods which are listed below. The dates and groupings could be debated but we hope this gives you a good start point.

  1. Early Northamptonshire (Pre 43 AD)
  2. The Romans (43 AD - 410 AD)
  3. The Saxons (410 AD - 1066)
  4. The Danes (793 - 1042)
  5. The Normans (1066 - 1154)
  6. The Middle Ages (1154 - 1485)
  7. The Tudors (1485 - 1603) - To be completed
  8. The Stuarts (1603 - 1714) - To be completed
  9. The Hanovers (1714 - 1901) - To be completed
  10. The Windsors (1901 - Today) - To be completed

Each section has a brief description below with links to find out more. We will continually update these sections so please feel free to comment on them and guide their evolution.

Early Northamptonshire (Pre 43 AD)

This era is often referred to as pre-history as documented details of this period are rare. Northampton settlements can be dated back to 4000 BC where evidence of a circular earth work has been found at Briar Hill.

Circa 2000 BC Bronze age settlements are in evidence with pottery and light weapons being found scattered in various areas of the county in the form of arrowheads and axes.

Quite sizable farm settlements from the 1000 BC also appear throughout the southern valley areas of the county.

During the Iron Age at around 400 BC there is also evidence of a fortification at Hunsbury which consisted of a mound of defensible earth whose shape can still be made out to this day. It is thought that this settlement was used until around 20AD with pots and tools being found during this time period.

The area at this time largely consists of woodland and rich farmland which post 500 BC was occupied by the the Catuvellauni tribe. A well organised tribe with military might which put up a very strong fight against the probing Romans (led by Julius Caesar) with their then leader Cassivellaunus who was finally forced to surrender in 54 BC.

Click here to read more about Early Northamptonshire.
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The Romans (43 AD - 410 AD)

Northamptonshire was not perhaps as important a military Roman location as, for example, nearby Leicestershire as the two main roads from the South pass just inside the left and right boundaries. These two roads are today's A5 known as Watling Street and today's A1 which was known as Ermine Street.

There were three main Roman centers within the county Towcester (The Roman named 'Lactodorum'), Irchester and the main area of commerce and the most populated location Water Newton (then referred to as Durobrivae and now falls outside of the county boundary). Durobrivae was in actual fact one of the richest of the smaller Roman towns in England. This is largely due to the very successful potteries at Castor and the growth of some very large villas nearby. Much of this wealth came from the sale of the pottery around the Roman Empire.

There are an increasing number of Roman settlements are being found across the county including one of the more recent at Nether Heyford known as the 'Whitehall Farm' Roman Villa.
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The Saxons (410 AD - 1066)

The Saxons controlled the area from around the time the Romans left (410 AD) till the Normans arrived in 1066. The Saxons left their mark on Northamptonshire leaving behind a legacy of Saxon village names as well as the monuments such as the Saxon church tower which still stands at Earls Barton.

A Great Hall is said to be constructed next to St. Peter's Church in Marefair. This is reputed to be the home of a prince and was originally constructed of timber around 750 AD. Around 70 years later it was rebuilt from stone and made much larger.

During the later period of the Saxon reign the Saxons were troubled by the Danes (Vikings or Norseman) who co-existed with the Saxons for a time although it was by no means a comfortable situation.

Notes to be expanded:

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The Danes (793 - 1042)

Just before the Normans arrived, towards the end of the 9th century there was a a period in which the Danish invasion led to the occupation of Northamptonshire and specifically Northampton. The Saxon King Alfred reluctantly agreed an uneasy peace with these interlopers and England was partitioned between them.

The Danes ruled Northampton, North East of the line of Watling Street whilst the Saxons retained all to the South West of the Roman built road. These Danish areas fell under what is known as Danelaw which meant that Danish rules were to be followed in these areas.

Due to the border location this area was likely to be home to a strong fighting force and it during this time the foundations for Northampton Castle would have appeared in the form of early fortifications. After much fighting Northampton was subsequently re-conquered by Alfred's grandson Aethelstan, son of Edward the Elder. The town would likely have suffered tremendously during this conflict with the population and prosperity straining to survive.
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The Normans (1066 - 1154)

The Normans truly left their mark on Northampton building some of the more robust and splendid structures that are still visible today. The Normans were famous for their Churches but they also created Northampton Castle which was likely built on a wooden Saxon stronghold and became a strong center for trade and government.

Simon de Senlis (de St. Lis) was appointed the Earl of Northampton and under his control Northampton begain to flourish and began its journey to becoming the 3rd largest town in the country. De Senlis built the Castle and a number of the churches including the church of the Holy Sepulchre which has a circular nave not common to holy buildings. It was built in 1100 and was based on the original Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem where De Senlis had been during the first crusade. It is one of only 4 of the UK's surviving round churches.

Rockingham Castle was built during the early part of this period with the new King William ordering the construction of this stronghold overlooking the Welland Valley. This Castle fortunately survives to this day and is a modern tourist attraction with events and weddings still held here.


Delapre Abbey

Delapre Abbey was constructed in 1145 by the second Earl of Northampton, the son of Simon de Senlis also called Simon.

William St. Clare, archdeacon of Northampton founds the St Johns Hospital around 1144.

The Domesday Book records that Northampton was resident to about 300 houses and just under 2000 inhabitants.

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The Middle Ages (1154 - 1485)

Without doubt, Northamptonshire was bucking the trend in this era in what was also known as the 'Dark Ages'. Northampton was truly in it's golden age as it rose to become one of the most important towns in the country. Unfortunately this success did not last till the end of the Middle Ages...

It was certainly a mix of fortunes for the folk of Northamptonshire as into this era saw prosperity and population growth. Many of the large houses in the county were built which encouraged visits from the Kings court for entertainment and sport. Much of the local woodland (e.g. Salcey, Silverstone etc.) was a popular hunting ground for nobles. Nearly 50 Town charters were issued by the various Kings which legitimised commerce at the markets and town centres, a sure sign of a prospering population. Amazingly Northampton becomes the third largest town in England.

Northampton Castle became host to Parliament(Actually in 1131 under the Normans) establishing it as the center of government decision making for the Kingdom. It is hard to believe that this county and town were so prominent in the Kings standing and yet today Northamptonshire and the history of it are largely anonymous. The castle was also the site for many great tournaments and was truly an important place for the Kings court.

Perhaps this is the reason for the great trades which grew around the county's popularity. Large groups of tailors, weavers and of course shoemakers appearing throughout the county and specifically in Northampton town itself.

Peter the Cordwainer (shoemaker) is noted as the earliest reference to the shoemaking trade in 1202. To find out more follow the link to Shoemaking in Northampton.

A twist in fortunes is evident as a downward spiral begins with comments in historical texts to many villages being abandoned. Poor climate resulting in starvation and deprivation for the commonfolk is mentioned but also the Bubonic Plague (1348-50) took its toll along with other epidemics resulting in the county population being reduced by as much as 40 percent.

These scenes are not hard to imagine as it is this period that is commonly portrayed in the media with the likes of Robin Hood riding to the rescue of no doubt similar folk just some 50 miles North in Nottinghamshire.

Perhaps contrary to these scenes though, the sudden loss in the workforce meant that the local lords were forced to pay a good wage to the peasants and they certainly prospered in the latter years.

Notes to be expanded:

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The Tudors (1485 - 1603)

The fortunes of Northamptonshire continued to suffer into the Tudor era as King Henry VIII's famous disagreement with Rome led to the dissolution of the Catholic Church in England. The monasteries, nunnaries and friaries were all victims as the land and wealth was stripped from what was reported to be an innocent and mostly poor collection of religous houses. Their main aim was religous contemplation and service to the poor.

The benefactors of this incredible act were of course the King's treasury, but also the local nobles who were given the land and its bounty which included crops and livestock. One such noble was the elder Sir Thomas Tresham (Prior Tresham) [Interestingly whose family held secret catholic affinity].

Notes to be expanded:

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The Stuarts (1603 - 1714)

(coming very soon)

Notes to be expanded:

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The Hanovers (1714 - 1901)

(coming very soon)

Northamptonshire's Tram System was built in 1881 with the last route expansion being in 1914. These trams operated until 1934

Notes to be expanded:

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The Windsors (1901 - Today)

(coming very soon)

Notes to be expanded:

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Early Northamptonshire (Pre 43 AD)

Archaeology suggests that a Northampton settlement began as early as 4000 B.C. where evidence has been found in the Briar Hill area. This manifests itself as a circular earthwork in which the inhabitants would gather socially and/or religiously.

Circa 2000 BC Bronze age settlements are in evidence with pottery and light weapons being found scattered in various areas of the county in the form of arrowheads and axes. The people would largely have lived in 'roundhouses' made of earth and timber.

Quite sizable farm settlements from the 1000 BC also appear throughout the southern valley areas of the county.

During the Iron Age at around 400 BC there is also evidence of a fortification at Hunsbury which consisted of a mound of defensible earth whose shape can still be made out to this day. It is thought that this settlement was used until around 20AD with pots and tools being found during this time period.

Other, smaller hill forts may also have existed at Rainsborough, Badby, Thenford, Borough Hill, Castle Dykes, Guilsborough, and Irthlingborough.

Most people of the Iron Age were farmers, merchants, or craftspeople living in tribal communities although there seems to have been a need to protect themselves with these hill forts. This may have been during times of war but more likely on a daily basis to protect themselves and their livestock from predators such as boar and wolves.

Northamptonshire was heavily wooded and would have been a rich farmland. The tribes would live near natural resources such as atop hills for protection, but also near rivers and woods for growing food, raising livestock and hunting.

The hill forts themselves probably consisted of a small group of houses which were a stone, circular wall about 4 feet high with a thatched pointed roof. These houses were surrounded by a wooden palisade situated on top of a steep bank. In some cases a ditch may be dug at the bottom of the bank.

It is likely that a local chief would live in such a enclosure with his family and warriors with the regular tribes-folk living in the area surrounding it. During dangerous periods the tribe would gether inside the walls of the fort and take their sheep and cattle with them.

The Catuvellauni

This strong tribe occupied the central part of England, encompassing London, Hertfordshire , Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, parts of Essex and of course Northamptonshire.

When the Romans first came to Britain in 56 BC this tribe were the most dominant tribe in Britain having conquered much of South East England. We know that their leader, Cassivellaunus, organised the resistance against Caesar's second expeditionary force (55 BC) and whilst the Roman journals do not mention this tribe too much, it is suspected that this is because they caused Caesar a good deal of trouble and as such, the Romans (the self promoting Caesar in particular) were not keen to document this.

This tribe also appear to be using excellent miltary tactics to gain control of a large areas of south-central England to take advantage of trade and political oppurtunities. Caeser himself remarks on the use of skilled charioteers who at that time had never been part of a Roman army.

Cassivellaunus was finally defeated in 54 BC who was forced to surrender after he had dismissed most of his army relying on guerrilla tactics to outmanoeuvre his larger foe.

Shoemaking in Northampton

Although officially associated with Northampton in the 15th Century, shoemaking in the county was establishing itself early on with references to Peter the Cordwainer as in 1202. See our section on the Middle Ages to see how it helped Northampton to become one of the most important towns in the Country.

Sixty-four to the inch

Northampton was often referred to as having the highest quality shoes in the business. 'Sixty-four stiches to the inch' was a reference to the detailed and painstaking quality that went into the shoes.

The first factory

Although a well established industry, the first machine based factory in Northampton was founded in 1838 by a 19 year old Moses Philip Manfield who originated from Bristol. He setup a workshop in Silver Street (click for map) and from here began trading in footwear created by men who traditionally had handsewn.

This young man went on to become the mayor of Northampton and the liberal M.P. (succeeding Charles Bradlaugh) before he died in 1899 where his funeral procession was watched by an estimated 15,000 people.

For a detailed look at factories breaking into shoemaking in Northampton, we recommend this excellent article from the BBC - Northampton Shoemakers.

The 'Cobblers'

The Northampton Football team is still referred to as 'The Cobblers'. In 1841 There were 1,871 Shoemakers in the town. The Football Team was officially formed in 1897 so at that time, Northampton was very much a shoemaking town with images of men in aprons working great machines in the many factories in the town center.

Interestingly, although shoemakers are often referred to as 'cobblers' the word cobbler is correctly applied to those that repair shoes. The manufacturer of footwear is known as a 'cordwainers'. This term has its origins in the word 'cordovan' which was a reddish leather produced in Spain and thus one who worked in cordovan was a cordwainer.

St Crispin

In Duston there is a hospital known as St Crispin's which is a huge old building visible as you drive up past Rothersthorpe and towards Duston. St Crispin is in fact the patron saint of shoemakers. Since medieval times, October 25th has been celebrated as St. Crispin's Day and the Shoemaker's Holiday. In the past, boot and shoemakers traditionally closed their shops on this day, in celebration and commemoration.

St. Crispin was born into a wealthy Roman family in the third century A.D.. Early in his life he converted to Christianity which was an embarressment to his family and peers. The legend says that he was disinherited and forced to make his own way in life. He became a shoemaker to support himself whilst his main calling was to teach the gospel. In the end he was put to death for his beliefs.

Interesting Facts

Northampton supplied most of the boots to the British armed forces during the 20th Century World Wars.

During the Civil War (1642 - 1651) Northampton's shoemakers supplied the Parliamentary armies with 600 pairs of boots and 4000 pairs of shoes. It is said that they never received payment for these items.

Shoemaking Today

Northampton today is still considered the place to go for prestige Shoes, such as supplying James Bond with shoes during the last 5 films including Casino Royale. Shoes from Church's were also used in the Da Vinci Code movie.

Among the current leading names in the industry is Church's English Shoes, based in St James, which now employs about 400 people. This is a family run business established in 1873 and is majority owned by Prada. In October 1999 Prada purchased an 83% share for $170 million (approx £83 million) with some analysts questioning the heavy price tag.

In the late 1940's there were around 240 shomaking factories in the county of which about 34 remain. The ones which have survived are all over 100 years old.

Further Reading

Try typing 'Northampton Shoe' into an Amazon search and you will find many books on the subject, as well as in the Northampton Library and the Shoe Museum which is a worthwhile and easy visit being in the town center and free to enter.

There will be more information here at some point but as mentioned, there is lots of information available so we will be concentrating on other areas in the near future. If you would like to contribute, drop us a quick post in the forum and you could be editing this page!.