Simon I de Senlis (or Senliz), 1st Earl of Northampton and 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, who was born 1068 and died between 1111 and 1113, was a Norman nobleman
From schools to churches that have stood for almost a millennium, everyone in Northampton has heard the name Simon de Senlis.
The knight, whose family came over from Normandy with William the Conqueror, rose to the height of the new English aristocracy.
He founded some of the best-known landmarks in Northampton before returning to the land of his birth in his later years.
Here, lay out of ten facts known about this key character in Northampton’s past.
5. Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Northampton
De Senlis is believed to have copied the rounded chapel of the holy church in Jerusalem when he returned to England. In around 1100, he built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Northampton (pictured), one of just four remaining round churches in England Photo: Google Streetview
6. Northampton Castle
Simon de Senlis also built Northampton Castle in around 1100, one of the largest and most impressive palaces in the country. Today, all that remains of the once great castle is this gateway close to Northampton Train Station Photo: Google Streetview
7. The Vexin
Simon de Senlis accompanied King William 'Rufus' II to Normandy for a military campaign in around 1068 to capture the Vexin (pictured) - a historic, rural county just north of Paris. Sir Simon was himself captured by the French and was ransomed for his release Photo: Google Streetview
8. St John's Chapel in the Tower of London
Back in London, Sir Simon saw the accession of a new king - William Rufus's younger brother King Henry I. He witnessed the new king's Charter of Liberties issued at his coronation at St John's Chapel in the Tower of London in 1100 Photo: The Chapels Royal, HM Tower of London