Building record 1160/90/4 - Northampton Art Gallery and Museum

Northampton Gaol opened in July 1846 and sold in 1880. The Museum and Art Gallery was later built around the eastern block and the western block became the Salvation Army Headquaters and subsequently County Council offices

{1} The gaol was built 'at an expense of £25,000, under the supervision of Mr J. Milne, then the county architect. It was opened in July 1846 and will accommodate 150 prisoners… The building is composed of two wings, which form a right angle with each other, their point of junction affording a means by which the whole can be seen; the cells are thirteen feet one inch in length, six feet eleven inches in width, and nine feet eight inches in height from the floor to the crown of the arch; a water closet and metal basin, supplied from a reservoir of water at the control of the prisoner, are in every cell; and there are twenty exercising yards for the male prisoners arranged upon a radiating plan'

{2} The old county gaol was sold to Mr. J. Watkins in 1880, who sold the portion now used as the museum and art gallery to the Town Council. The remainder of the property was bought by the Salvation Army in 1889 [author correction: 1884] and purchased from them by the County Council in 1914. The Salvation Army remained in occupation as tenants till early in 1928.

Following the purchase of the gaol by the Council in 1914, the Salvation Army retained use of the building as tenants. There appears to have been some limited use of the gaol by the Council’s Education Department, with book stores in the south end of the lower ground floor level, and offices at the north end of ground and first floor levels. As well as this, the building also housed a mineral water factory in the basement and in smaller buildings constructed in the space between the gaol and the female gaol. Between the years 1894-96 the mineral water factory was operated by Edwards & Co., and was succeeded in 1898 by Francis Dilks who used the building until 1910.

{3}Extract: 'The “Army”, after being established in the town for about five years, found it necessary to secure a more commodious and more convenient place for use than the old “Barracks” near the Midland Station, and the portion of the old County Gaol running parallel to Guildhall-road was hired for the purpose. The necessary alterations were commenced a few months ago, and completed last week. Three rows of cells, which in the old building were placed one above the other, have been removed, and a spacious hall thus made that will rest about two thousand people. At the back there is a gallery calculated to comfortably hold three hundred and fifty, and in the front there are two platforms, one about a foot higher than the other, and behind these raised seats for the band, choir etc. The hall is high, and lighted by gas, fixed within a few feet of the ceiling. At the back there is a smaller hall, seating about 700 people and 16 rooms that can be used as head-quarters of the division. The public entrance is from Guildhall-road, and a private one for the soldiers from Angel-lane. The cost amounted to between £800 and £900, and the place is taken on a lease of 21 years, at the rate of £120 per year, with the option of extending it for 14 years afterwards at a slightly increased rent'

{4} Sketch and drawing of a thumbscrew found in Biggleswade and presented to Northampton Museum, sketch and notes on part of a clasp of a scrip, again presented to Northampton Museum, tracings from the museum, notes on coins, pottery, tokens etc presented to museum;

<1> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire (Book). SNN1002.

<2> Bassir A., 2017, Historic building recording and archaeological observation at the Northampton Museum & Art Gallery and the Old Gaol, Northampton, Northamptonshire, p. 7 (Report). SNN110819.

<3> Bassir, A, 2021, The history and development of Northampton Country Gaol and Northampton Museum & Art Gallery (Article). SNN112925.

<4> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/198/39,40,42-52,71-74 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Apr 23 2025 7:07PM