Monument record 1160/146/3 - Interlinked cellars, Mercers Row and Market Square

A series of subterranean features that have often been interpreted as 'tunnels' but are probably a series of interlinked cellars which also served as air raid shelters in WW2.

{1} Discussion of legend of Northampton's tunnels.

{2} Photos of shelters under the market square; they were not used as they would not have stood up to a direct hit; photos of an entrance to an underground shelter in the Drapery.

{4} Chronicle and Echo article detailing the subterranean structures beneath Market Square and vicinity

{5} Chronicle and Echo article detailing the tunnels and possible uses for them beneath Northampton

{6} Letter to Chronicle and Echo in response to Passages of Time article

{8} A sketch plan of the "tunnels" under the market square was prepared by the Borough Engineer, and is now in the possession of B.Giggins. The tunnels commenced outside All Saints Church and ran northward for approximately 50m into the market square, on its eastern side. They were constructed as a series of inter-linked cellars in the late C19th, serving as warehouses for the businesses at surface level. They also served as air-raid shelters in WWII. Many of the cellars are now blocked.

{10} The series of cellars surveyed in the 1970s was illustrated and shows the network of interconnected spaces along Mercers Row and extending northwards into the Market Square. The proposed air raid shelter is also shown in the centre of the square.

{11} Archaeological investigation undertaken during the redevelopment of the Market Square identified a portion of brick-vaulting, probably of a cellar, located within the south part of the square. This vaulting corresponds to the known cellars located to the north of Waterloo House {10}.

<1> Giggins B., 1978, Northampton's Tunnels: Fact or Fiction?, p.13-15 (unchecked) (Article). SNN56839.

<2> 1978, Northamptonshire At War 1939-45, A Selection Of Photographs, p.13 (unchecked) (Book). SNN100251.

<3> Cadman G., 2014, 20th Century Military Archaeology in Northamptonshire: Logs 1, 2 & 3, (checked) (Report). SNN104868.

<4> Smith, G., 2006, County Tales: Square's Hidden Heritage, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107674.

<5> Smith, G., 2006, County Tales: Passages Of Time, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107700.

<6> Welsh, T., 2006, Exciting Opportunity To Probe Town's History, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107701.

<7> Northampton Borough Engineer, 1974, Sketch Plans of Market Square "Tunnels", (unchecked) (Plan). SNN57314.

<8> Giggins B., 2000, Market Square "Tunnels", (checked) (Oral Report). SNN105484.

<9> Market Square "Tunnels", (unchecked) (Archive). SNN105485.

<10> Crothers, Mary Ellen, 2022, Archaeological desk-based heritage assessment of Northampton Market Square, Northamptonshire, February 2022, p. 40-41; Fig A2 (Report). SNN114315.

<11> 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.

Record last edited

Apr 23 2025 3:38PM