Northampton as it used to be: 38 fantastic aerial pictures of the town from years gone by

There’s something special about seeing Northampton from the air – particularly when the photographs capture a town that looked very different to the one we know today.

By David Summers

Published 22nd Sep 2026, 13:08 GMT

Over the years, the Chronicle & Echo has taken hundreds of aerial photographs documenting Northampton and its changing landscape.

This collection of 38 fantastic pictures from our archives offers a fascinating bird’s-eye view of the town in years gone by, showing familiar streets, landmarks and neighbourhoods as they once looked.

Take a look through the gallery and see how much of Northampton you recognise.