Building record 1160/103/1 - Nos.8, 8A, 9 & 9A George Row (Formerly C15th Talbot Inn & C18/19th Infirmary)

The Northampton & County Club. It has late medieval vaulted stone cellars, survivors of the Great Fire of Northampton of 1675. Extended in the 18th century to form Northampton's first Infirmary. There is a fine 17th century staircase and ceiling and an almost intact 19th century billiards room.

{1} C18, altered. Stucco faced front of 2 storeys with central pediment. 7 sash windows with keystones. Porch in centre has rusticated Doric columns. Ground floor modern shop windows. Interior: good staircase of late C17 with ceiling circa 1740. Late medieval cellars have octagonal columns, rib vaulting. Judge's Lodgings, Sessions House, County Hall, County Council Offices & Nos 8, 8A, 9 & 9A form a group.

{3} Probable C14th stone-vaulted undercroft; surveyed by Dryden.

{4} Illustration, inscribed on it "This public infirmary for reception of Sick and Lame Poor supported by voluntary Subscriptions and Benefactions..". This house is capable of containing 80 Beds, and is regularly attended by Physicians and Surgeons. The number of out-patients is unlimited, who are supply'd with medicines and advice gratis upon every Saturday, between the hours of eleven and one; at which time a committee of Govenors together with the Physicians and Surgeons punctually meet so commendable a spirit appeared in the Nobility and Gentry of the County on proposing this Infimary in 1743, that it was resolv'd on and established in less than two months. Further illustration showing the County Infirmary at Northampton - an interior view.

{5} The west wall of the building survived the great fire of 1675 and still has the remains of a medieval two light window, which like the undercroft is c14th century in date; the building was either a great house or an Inn but the undercroft was a separate structure only accessible from the road. By the 15th century the building was known as the 'Talbot Inn'; although the building was probably damaged by the fire of 1675, a new frontage with an ornate porch was constructed and it was used a large town house for the gentry; it was then opened as an infirmary in 1744.

{6} Known history of the County Club, which dates from the 13th century. The report also discusses the early two-light stone window and its significance.

{8} The original operating theatre of the infirmary still exists in the attic.

{9} The Club building suffers from cumulative alterations, under-use and lack of repair, especially to its rear C18 stone elevations. Condition survey and options appraisal completed with Historic England funding in 2014. Repair options under discussion.

{13} There is a wing constructed of ironstone at the rear with a central window keystone dated 1753 and behind that a brick-built wing by William Hull with toothed horseshoe arcading. Inside there is a billiard room of the same date that's hardly been altered.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 3/56 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), DOE(HHR) Dist.of Northampton, Northants. Jan. 1976, H14 p.68 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN1000.

<3> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, (unchecked) (Archive). SNN115.

<4> Waddy F.F., 1974, A History of Northampton General Hospital 1743 to 1948, p.14-15 (checked) (Book). SNN104767.

<5> Cadman G.; Giggins B., 2003, Northampton & Country Club, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN103169.

<6> Giggins B., 2003, An Early Window Rediscovered in 2003 at the Country Club, George Row, Northampton, (checked) (Report). SNN103295.

<7> 1743, The Gentlemans Magazine (1743), p.506+650 (unchecked) (Magazine). SNN105174.

<8> Smith, G., 2006, County Tales: Square's Hidden Heritage, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107674.

<9> Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2016, p. 54 (Report). SNN110747.

<10> Historic England, 2017, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2017, p. 61 (Report). SNN111090.

<11> Historic England, 2018, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2018, p. 61 (Report). SNN111434.

<12> Perkins, T, Cockerill, T, & Marriott, M, 2022, Northamptonshire & County Club Vaulted Cellars (Plan). SNN116461.

<13> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 445 (Book). SNN111989.

Record last edited

Jul 22 2025 4:06PM