Seeing this picture of a little duck on my computer screen reminds me of the fun I had exploring an historic group of Northampton town centre buildings whilst researching for my guidebook Gaols, Gallows and Ghosts.

I wonder whether the duck was carved by a bored County Council employee working at County Hall on George Row? More likely it was inscribed by a prisoner when this was the County Gaol. Adjacent graffiti on the stones of Centre Block, comprising rows of lines, suggest prisoners were ticking off the days, weeks or even years of their confinement. Scratched nineteenth century dates on the stonework perhaps back up my prisoner theory as the Northamptonshire County Council didn’t exist before 1889.

I have been told many a tale from people who have worked at the site, by lawyers, prison warders, politicians, office workers, maintenance staff and cleaners. They all have all fond memories of their time working at County Hall to share with me.

One of my favourite stories comes from a former Mayor of Northampton who told me he saw a ghost in his office at County Hall one night. His recollection reminded me of a contemporary account of the appearance of the ghost of John Croxford who was executed at Northampton on August 4th 1764 for the murder of a stranger in the parish of Guilsborough. The Chaplain’s account was first published in 1764 and republished in 1819. He wrote that the ghost appeared beside him in his study whilst he was perusing the Scriptures. The phantasm told him exactly where he had hastily buried the victim’s gold ring as an inscription had spooked him. The clergyman set off at dawn the following morning to Guilsborough and recovered the engraved ring from the specified location. The inscription read HANGED HE’LL BE WHO STEALS ME, 1745.

Duck image carved on the wall of Centre Block at County Hall

placeholder image — Duck image carved on the wall of Centre Block at County Hall

The Centre Block is all that remains today of a 140 cell Georgian gaol. The southern end of the building extended to Angel Street and was rebuilt as the Divisional Headquarters of the County Constabulary.

Alfred Rouse the infamous blazing car murderer was detained here in the early 1930s. After the Police were relocated to Wootton Hall Park during the 1960s the building was reused as the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and later as the County Council’s Computer Section.

Workman adapting the former cells at the back of the Police Station for office use apparently struggled to cut through the hardened brickwork. The main frame IBM computer purchased in the 1980s emitted 40kw of heat. Before the computer was installed the Council brought in twenty electric two bar heaters to check whether the air conditioning could cope.

No doubt County Hall’s historic buildings have many other tales to tell. It is sad to see such interesting properties being regarded as redundant by West Northants Council. The Centre Block and Police Station are being advertised for sale. Hopefully any new owners will be sympathetic towards the history of the site.

Copies of Gaols, Gallows and Ghosts, a guide to wonderful buildings on George Row/St Giles Square, Guildhall Road and Angel Street in Northampton are available from the bookshop at the Museum and Art Gallery in Guildhall Road, and at George’s Café on George Row.