Monument record 1160/0/22 - Medieval Guildhall, corner of Abington Street and Wood Hill

The medieval Guildhall was demolished in 1864. Possibly of 14th or 15th century origin.

{1} Stood on corner of Abington Street & Wood Hill; although this structure was probably early C14th date it is possible that the Guildhall was established on this site at an earlier date; C14th building stood until 1864 when a new Town Hall was constructed & old one demolished;

{2} Second Town Hall stood at south-east of Market Square between Abington Street & Dickers Lane; apparently C14th origin; third storey may have been added in C15th when assembly began to be held here after 1489; basement used for shops in Tudor period; in C17/18th used as town gaol; repairs to building documented in C17/18th; 3 storeys with battlemented parapet; hall on first floor & ground floor originally open; pointed 2-light windows on first floor; square-headed windows on second floor; Guildhall destroyed after 1864 on building of new structure in St Giles Street; some interior fittings in Abington Museum;

{4}Site of C14th Town Hall;

{5} Predecessor of the present one stood on corner of Abington Street & Wood Hill until 1864; virtually unrecorded; plate 1 shows the Guildhall before demolition; it would seem reasonable that this Guildhall was established on this site at an earlier date; discussion of possible location of Northampton's other early Guildhalls at Gold Street & Mayorhold; plan showing possible locations; also discussion of possible function of Guildhalls;

{7} The most important post-fire losses included C14th Town Hall which was demolished in 1864;

{8} Near the corner of Abingotn Street crossing over at the corner of Wood Hill is the Town Hall in which the Corporation hold their meetings & business of Borough Sessions;

{11} The medieval guildhall or seld, may have embraced late 13th century fabric. The seld was a focus for the regulation of trade in the town in the late 13th century. Argues that the 'hostur seld' referred to by documents may have been the 'common seld' and contain the common hall where justices in eyre held their session in 1285 and perhps therefore have been the guildhall.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.337 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire- The Borough of Northampton, p.36-37 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<3> Cox Rev.J.C., 1898, Records of The Borough of Northampton, p.170 (unchecked) (Book). SNN3420.

<4> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, M235 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

<5> WILLIAMS J., 1983, NORTHAMPTONS MEDIEVAL GUILDHALLS, 5-9 (Report). SNN1316.

<6> GLAZEBROOK C.J., 1970, THE HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON'S TOWN HALLS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN56897.

<7> Giggins, B., 1977, Northampton, 45 Bridge Street, 203 (Article). SNN1317.

<8> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.73-74 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1032.

<9> WELSH T.C., 1999, ST GILES' SQUARE/ ST GILES' STREET PROPERTIES 15TH - 18TH CENTURY, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN56732.

<10> Historic England, Undated, TOWN HALL, NORTHAMPTON, BF085096 (Archive). SNN115645.

<11> John H Williams, 2014, Town and Crown: the Governance of Later Thirteenth-Century Northampton, p. 24; 67-71 (Book). SNN116857.

Record last edited

Jul 7 2025 3:36PM