Northampton is a beautiful county town in East Midlands of England. It is very ancient in nature. Sights of roman culture are prevalent in the town. The earliest reference of Northampton in writing was found in 914 under names of Ham Tune. It is located on the bank of river Nene, about 67 miles north-west of London and 50 miles south-east of Birmingham.
The ancient signs dates back to bronze age and roman periods. A fine roman castle was built by The first Earl of Northampton , Simon de Senli. This castle was situated in the centre of town and hosted parliament regularly. Among all the towns in Europe , this was one of the most educated town.. During the 12th century, Northampton was considered as one of the most richest and important towns in England. For couple of centuries, Northampton’s staples industry was the manufacturer of shoes. By 1831, a third of all the men living in the town were all shoe makers. However, before the shoe industry, the main prevailing business of this town was wool. The wool was made in the city and sometimes it was used to make woolen garments which were then sold in other cities.. There were many old buildings in the town and one of them which is standing today also is Hazelrigg House.
This building was built in Elizabethan period. Market and fairs were a key part of town’s economy in medieval times. The market square came to life in 1235 when Henry III ordered that selling of goods in churchyard should be relocated to market square. Street names of the town give hint to its business flavor. The town also suffered a huge fire in 1675 which destroyed the town in ashes. It was soon rebuilt and grew at a faster pace due to 18th century industrial development. Town continued to grow in 19th century with the arrival of railway.
After World War II, Northampton changed vastly. The city was redeveloping with Northampton Development Council (NDC). In the town centre, older buildings were demolished and replaced or redeveloped by other buildings. Growth was steady and slow but it was always consistent. Though the recent developments have changed the city hugely and vastly, but the city keeps its own cultural flavor enriched and it is blooming more as the days are passing by It is a perfect example of rich British culture amalgamated with modern life changes. The city has maintained the true Northampton beauty in the long run and has given us some of the most amazing sites.