It may surprise you to know that the market, in 1189, was first formed on the grounds of All Saints Church before it uprooted and moved to its current location in Market Square in 1235 after Henry III forbade the selling of goods in the churchyard of All Saints.
Since then, the Market Square has been a witness to two huge scale fires, which damaged some of the most popular pubs at the time.
In 1516 the town was destroyed by a blaze for the first time, and then again in 1675 during The Great Fire of Northampton which devestated the town centre - destroying over 600 buildings in just six hours.
Residents raised around £25,000 towards rebuilding the town centre and it's pubs based around the Market Square, Northampton Borough Council cite.
Local pub historian, Dave Knibb, claims that there have been “two dozen pubs and inns associated with the Market Square”, and maybe more lost in the mists of time.
He said: “There are names like the Prince In Armour and the Bishops Blaize, which were never rebuilt after the 'Great Fire' in 1675, and the Talbot, was named in 1585 as one of Northampton's 'ancient inns', it was on the corner of Newland (now the Grosvenor Centre) and, again, perished in the fire.”
Later on, in 1873, the town’s Cattle Market was built on the Square, in 1913 King George V visited and during the Second World War, the Square was used for War Weapon Weeks to raise money for Spitfires, Warships and Tanks.
If only the cobbles could talk.
"Last Orders" is in limited print and is available by contacting Dave himself on [email protected] or by ringing 07939 990790. Copies are priced at £17.99.
1. The Trooper, 2, Market Square
The Trooper first opened as the White Hart in 1750, briefly becoming the Mail Coach, before being renamed the Trooper in 1821. It's licence was finally revoked by the council in 1905. Photo: UGC
2. Duke Of Clarence, 11, Mercers Row
Although not strictly on the Market Square, the photo almost qualifies it for inclusion. Opening in the early 1700's as the Queens Dragoons it then became the Duke Of Clarence which was a mainstay in the town centre until it was closed in 1911 for being structurally unsafe. Photo: UGC
3. Victoria Hotel, 1, Market Square
Now the Santander Bank, Victoria House was a hotel and pub from 1863 to 1873, the licence eventually being transferred to the Victoria on the corner of Poole Street and Military Road (hence the name). Photo: UGC
4. The Admiral Rodney, 4, Market Square
The pub was first called the Admiral Rodney in 1974 before taking on the name, Duke Of York, then Duke Of Wellington, before becoming the Admiral Rodney again in the 1820's. Like the Auctioneers pub today, it had entrances on both the Square and the Drapery and finally closed its doors in 1964. Photo: UGC