These snaps of historic Northampton pubs have been dug up from the archives by local historian Dave Knibb
So many fondly-remembered Northampton pubs have shut their doors over the years but are still in the memories of their customers.
These photos - researched by Dave Knibb, the author of 'Last Orders: A History and Directory of Northampton Pubs' - show some of Northampton's historic stomping grounds.
Dave's self-published book has sold more than 2,000 copies. Call 07939990790 or email [email protected] to buy a copy.
Click through our gallery to read Dave’s fascinating historical insights.
Dave's self-published book has sold more than 2,000 copies. Call 07939990790 or email [email protected] to buy a copy.
5. The Belvedere
The Belvedere, in St Giles' Street, started life as the Recruiting Sergeant, earliest date, 1793. It could easily have been there for a long while before, maybe under another name, but I could find no trace. It’s hard to know why Joseph Barker, the landlord, changed the name. He’d already been in the pub for a few years but changed its name in the Spring of 1875 and it stayed as the Belvedere for over 100 years before changing to the Boot & Shoe, then back to the Belvedere. It was known as Baroque...now it is The Velvet Room. I sometimes ignore some of the more silly and brief names that came and went with breathtaking regularity pretty much from the 1980’s onwards. Photo: Google
It’s not known, to me anyway, when the Forget-Me-Not first opened, being where it is it could have been around for quite a while before its first mention in 1861. The 1861 entry was when Jonathan Whiting was selling up and leaving and it would seem that the name left with him as it had become the Volunteer by 1867 when William Collins was in charge. Although in the heart of many other pubs in the Abington Square area, the Volunteer thrived, rather than being clogged up with traffic as it is now, it was the hustle and bustle of people and businesses that was heard back then. Whenever it appeared in the papers, it was associated with meetings, shows and ‘capital spreads’. The Volunteer has closed down in recent years. Photo: Google
Pictured is The Wheatsheaf c.1900.This pub troubles me more than any other, I think. The earliest mention came from 1864, and it closed sometime between 1957 and 1964, depending on whose version you choose to believe. I have found maybe a couple of dozen references to it, but nothing of any consequence. I have found out so much about little obscure places, but this one, remembered by so many people (partly because of its location) eludes me. It became a club for many years after its closure and has now been demolished. But as far as any detail is concerned, I have sadly failed you. Photo: Dave Knibb
The Swan Hotel was listed as a 16th or 17thCentury pub. That the Swan is old, there is no doubt, but how old? It was not listed as an Ancient Inn in 1585, so if it was about then, it was not anywhere near the stature it was later to become. There is no mention of it in the records from the 1675 Fire, of it being either burnt down or rebuilt, which is slightly strange, not every building was recorded but many of any significance were mentioned. I’m pretty certain that the Swan was first built after the fire, but on a big enough scale to make it instantly one of the bigger Inns in the town. t would have been the natural place to stay for people bringing goods to Northampton for market days as it was the first port of call when entering the town from the eastern Town Gate. It was renamed as the Mailcoach in the 1970’s and was one of my favourite town pubs in the 1980’s. Still a good pub. Photo: Dave Knibb