Monument record 1160/146 - Northampton Market Square

The first market charter was received in 1189 and the early medieval market place appears to have been in and around the church and cemetery of All Saints, moving to its current site, then an area of waste, in 1235. In 1517, there was a bequethal of money for completion of paving of market place.

{1}1517 bequethal of money for completion of paving of market place;

{2}1010 described as a port
Saturday market

{3} Article describing changes to the square between 1850s and present day.

{8} When the town was extended and replanned in 1300, the new Market place was given the name of the Chequer. Cox identifies the north side of the Market Square as Cornhill and the north-east corner as Rye Hill.

{9} In 1235 the market and fair were transferred from All Saints to a waste and empty place to the north of the church.

{10} Analysis of documents relating to the layout of the Market Square prior to the 1675 fire. None of the cellars or 'tunnels' inspected by the author had any fabric that could be dated to the medieval period. Several blocks of buildings are shown on the Pierce map on the western side of the Market Square. However, levelling operations after the fire may have removed all but the most substantial of foundations.

{12} Archaeological observation of geotechnical test pits excavated ahead of proposed development. Below modern deposits, stratified archaeological deposits were present across the site. The greatest depth of deposits was reached in a test hole in the northern part of the square, where it reached a depth of 6m bgl without the natural horizon being seen. A possible structure was observed on the north-western corner of the square.

{14} Continuous archaeological observation was undertaken during the redevelopment of the Market Square. The results of the works identified archaeological remains dating from the medieval through to the modern periods. The site has been in use as a market since AD 1235 and its continued reuse was evident during this project. Two late medieval metalled surfaces, probably lanes or pavements within the square, and the partial remains of an ironstone building, a probable ditch and a waste pit were identified. Part of the medieval Great Conduit was identified in the south of the square [HER 1160/161/1]. A dark organic-rich layer was identified across multiple trenches in the central area; a large quantity of finds was recovered from this area [HER 1160/146/4]. A post-medieval cobbled surface, cellar ceiling, structural timbers and deposit of mid to late 17th-century clay tobacco pipes were found.

{15} In the Edward I rental there are a series of rows: the row in which corn is sold, the row in which barley, oats and dredge are sold, the row opposite the bakers (now called Potters Hill), Hosiers Row, Glovers Row, Mercers Row, Regrators Row, Butchers Row, Fishmongers Row and Barbers Row. Deeds from the late 15th century onwards, relating to 'Next the Friars Minor' [ie Greyfriars] identify Ote or Oote Row (oats?) and Malte Rowe and Malt Hill as being in this area. Although it is not possible to locate all the different rows, it is clear that the market place extended north from All Saints Church and was fileld with semi-permanent shops and stalls, with more temporary stalls added on market days. Butchers Road seems to have been a free-standing row, whilst others were arrnaged around the edges. The present ranges of buildings between The Drapery and Market Square and Mercers would appear to be infilling of a previously open area, although it is not known when this happened.

{16} Holder argues that the selde [where goods were viewed and assessed] was located towards the western side of the Marketplace as a freestanding structure. Buildings and rows within the market square are noted; the Catte tavern noted in the 1504 rental lying immediately north of the Peacock Inn, demolished in 1969; Malt Row property opposite the selde. Possible locations of the various rows and other structures in the Market Square are illustrated. An Old Gaol and horsemill are mentioned.

<1> Serjeantson R.M.; Longden Isham H., 1913, The Parish Churches & Religious Houses of Northamptonshire: Their Dedications, Altars etc., p.160-61 (checked) (Extract). SNN1080.

<2> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Overview, Appendix 2 (Report). SNN103118.

<3> Freeman, S., 2003, Battles of the Square, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107630.

<5> Smith, G., 2006, County Tales: Square's Hidden Heritage, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107674.

<6> Coupland P.M., 2000, The Blackshirts in Northampton, 1933-1940 (Article). SNN102517.

<7> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 48-57 (Series). SNN77383.

<8> Cox Rev.J.C., 1898, Records of The Borough of Northampton, p. 517-8 (Book). SNN3420.

<9> 1242-47, Calendar of Close Rolls (1242-47), 206 (Document). SNN3917.

<10> Giggins, B, 2021, Research notes on the pre-fire Market Square Northampton and its reconstruction (Note). SNN114314.

<11> Crothers, Mary Ellen, 2022, Archaeological desk-based heritage assessment of Northampton Market Square, Northamptonshire, February 2022 (Report). SNN114315.

<11> Crothers, Mary Ellen, 2022, Archaeological desk-based heritage assessment of Northampton Market Square, Northamptonshire, January 2022, revised May 2022 (Report). SNN115449.

<12> Elston, J, 2021, Archaeological observation, investigation, recording, analysis and publication of Geotechnical Test Pit excavation at Market Square, Northampton, November 2021 (Report). SNN114639.

<13> Giggins, B, 2021, Research Notes on the Pre-Fire Market Square, Northampton and its Reconstruction (Report). SNN115111.

<14> Clare, R, 2024, Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design for a programme of archaeological observation, investigation, recording, analysis, and publication at Market Square, Northampton Northamptonshire, April to November 2023 (Report). SNN116794.

<15> John H Williams, 2014, Town and Crown: the Governance of Later Thirteenth-Century Northampton, p. 170 (Book). SNN116857.

<16> Steve Holder, Forthcoming, Appendix 5: Property Ownership: Methodology, permissions and Street Index, p. 319, 324 (Appendix). SNN116858.

Record last edited

Jul 15 2025 3:14PM