Welcome to Northampton

Northampton, the county town of Northamptonshire, is located on the River Nene, approximately 67 miles north-west of London and 54 miles south-east of Birmingham.

The town has a population of around 154,000. Administratively it is within the Borough of Northampton which covers an area of approximately 81 sq kms and which has a population of around 195,000.

Primarily renowned as a centre for the manufacture of footwear this is a modern town with an ancient history. The massive cobbled Market Square, at its centre, has main streets radiating from it which recall the town's medieval trades, such as Gold Street and Sheep Street. There are some fine historic buildings, including the 12th century Church of the Holy Sepulchre - an imitation of the Jerusalem original, and Welsh House built in 1595, a relic of the period when Welsh drovers brought their cattle to Northampton market. There are excellent shopping facilities and numerous visitor attractions in the area.

The town's history dates from the 7th century; by the 8th century it has become an administrative centre for the Kingdom of Mercia. The town walls and castle were built in the 11th century. King Richard gave the town its first charter in 1189, and in 1215 King John authorised the appointment of the town's first mayor, William Tilly. Northampton was a busy staging post for coaches and its cattle pastures provided hides for the town's staple trade of leather and shoemaking. The town was completely destroyed by fire in 1675, and then rebuilt so well that Daniel Defoe described it as, "the handsomest and best built town in all this part of England".

Historically the town's economy was based upon its shoe and leather manufacturing industries. Today the main industries include distribution and finance.

The pre-Norman town was known as Hamtun.