Monument record 6734 - The Racecourse Public Park/Kingsley Park (Formerly Northampton Heath & Freemen's Common)

The eastern corner of The Racecourse was the site of the gallows in the 18th century. That century also saw the first horse races on the course. Racing thrived in the 19th century when the course acquired a grandstand and the surrounding area developed in line with its stature. After a series of unfortunate accidents racing ceased in 1904. In the following years the park was developed as a public amenity. It was however used for army encampments in both World Wars and returned to the public shortly afterwards in both cases. The park gained its particular impact on the social infrastructure of Northampton in the 19th century. With the advent of the race ground late in the 18th century, the former area of fields became a significant element of the urban landscape that has lasted until the present. Indeed, one of the more important structures of the racecourse, the pavilion, has survived on the same site, though in a number of changing forms, for almost two centuries. It is suggested that this structure, one of the last remaining visible relics of the racecourse, be incorporated into any future plans.

{1} Shows some detail of park usage post WWII.

{2} Under the Inclosure Act of 1778 control of the 117-acre Racecourse was vested in the Trustees of The Freemen's Commons. Northampton Corporation acquired the land in 1882, but the Freemen continued to hold rights of pasture on the Common.
In the years following the cessation of racing in 1904 the Corporation began to build pathways, plant avenues of trees and shrubs, and construct facities for sports other than cricket on The Racecourse. Trees planted then formed part of the future avenues planted in the 1920s and 1953.
Many of the improvements were for naught however, as during the First World War the transformed park was converted into an army camp (Talavera) and became a town of tents and temporary stables in 1914. It was used to billet the Welsh Division of 16,000 men. Aerial photography indicates a number of possible reburied practice trenches in the middle of the park towards St George's Avenue.
During and after the war 25 acres of the park was given over to allotments.
In 1922 a children's playground was installed in the western half of the park, the so-called Happy Valley.
Enough was happening in the park by 1930 that the Corporation had the Victorian Racecourse Pavilion restored with the old stand joined on and converted into a sports pavilion by the architects Law and Harris.
The park was restored as a public amenity in 1953 when relandscaping and tree planting took place. It would seem likely that this was the period when the main tree avenues were planted.

{3} Horse racing had been going on, on the Freemans Common as it was then called, at least since 1652. The Common presented some problems as the town’s Freemen had control of the area with certain grazing and other rights which they vigorously defended. In 1778 the Northampton Enclosure Act was passed confirming pasturage rights to the Freemen, but with specific provision for horse racing to continue. By 1882 the Freemen’s rights were still causing annoyance, indeed so the Northampton Corporation Act was passed, acquiring the Racecourse for the townsfolk in return for paying the trustees £80 a year.

{5}{6} the Race Ground is marked, and also annotated with The Freemen of Northampton.

{7} By the mid C19th the Racecourse had more or less taken on its final shape, save for an orchard inhabiting the south-west corner. Race Ground and Freemens Common are both marked.

{8} …this great national sport has within the last 30 years been resusitated form a lingering death to the front rank of provincial meetings.

{12} In the 1880s the Town XI cricket club leased a portion of The Racecourse from the Northampton Corporation, who had acquired the area in 1882.

{14} Horse racing had been going on, on the Freemans Common as it was then called, at least since 1652. The Common presented some problems as the town’s Freemen had control of the area with certain grazing and other rights which they vigorously defended. In 1778 the Northampton Enclosure Act was passed confirming pasturage rights to the Freemen, but with specific provision for horse racing to continue. By 1882 the Freemen’s rights were still causing annoyance, indeed so the Northampton Corporation Act was passed, acquiring the Racecourse for the townsfolk in return for paying the trustees £80 a year.

{15} In the 1880s The Racecourse was surrounded by terraced housing to the south, west and north-west. Much of this may have been constructed with views of the park in mind, such as Langham Place on the Barrack Road, St George's Terrace and Watkin Terrace.

{16} The Racecourse by this time is also labelled a Recreation Ground. Trees line the footpaths that crisscross the park and tennis courts are visible on the east and west margins.

{17} The Race Ground is clearly shown to the north-east of the town.

{18} Known as the 'Horse Course' in 1779.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1950, Ordnance Survey 1950s Mapping Series (SP76), (unchecked) (Map). SNN54695.

<2> Butler A., 2007, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for The Racecourse Park, Northampton August 2007, p.4-5 (checked) (Report). SNN108091.

<3> Jarvis, E. (Ed.), 2010-12, Hindsight: The Journal of Northamptonshire Association of Local History, Issue 18 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN108377.

<4> Gould J., 2000, The Culworth Gang, p.38-48 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102514.

<5> 1779, Northampton Enclosure Map (NRO Map 5700), (unchecked) (Map). SNN40916.

<6> 1779, Map of The Commons of Northampton, (unchecked) (Map). SNN2683.

<7> Wood; Law, 1847, Town Map of Northampton, (unchecked) (Map). SNN752.

<8> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.161 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<9> Mark W.; Bailey, 1879, Northampton Past and Present, A Handy Guide Book to The Town and Neighbourhood, p.114 (unchecked) (Guide). SNN109476.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1887, First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Mapping Series (45.05), (unchecked) (Map). SNN47521.

<11> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.382 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<12> Sibley G., 1986, Northampton Club Cricket - A Centenary History, (unchecked) (Book). SNN109475.

<13> Brown C., 1990, Northampton 1835-1985, Shoe Town, New Town, (unchecked) (Book). SNN101549.

<14> Burman A., 2004, County Tales: Races Run, (unchecked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107682.

<15> Ordnance Survey, 1880, First Edition OS 6 Inch Mapping Series (45NW), (unchecked) (Map). SNN56298.

<16> Ordnance Survey, 1950, Ordnance Survey 6 Inch Map Series (SP76SE), (unchecked) (Map). SNN109478.

<17> Ordnance Survey, 1811-9, First Edition Ordnance Survey Surveyors Drawings, Sheet 253 (Map). SNN104902.

<18> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire (Map). SNN1852.

Record last edited

Apr 30 2025 2:12PM