History of Northampton Page 2
Shoe Town
The earliest known Northampton shoemaker
was Peter the Cordwainer in 1202, and the first prestige client
of the town's embryonic shoe industry was King John. During the
Civil War, Northampton's shoemakers supplied the Parliamentary
armies with 600 pairs of boots and 4000 pairs of shoes - for which
they were never paid.
It was during the Industrial Revolution that Northampton's
reputation as the centre of the shoe industry grew world-wide.
With the coming of the railways in 1845 and the modern roads,
boot and shoe-making became the town's principal industry. Individual
shoemakers, who had through the centuries worked from small premises
scattered across the town, began to join forces. Mechanisation
intensified the industry; markets became more widespread and demand
increased. Industrial growth led to rapid expansion and between
1800 and 1901, the town's population increased from just a few
thousand to 87,000.
The photo shows a statue in Northampton that
cellebrates the shoe industry.
Expanding into the 21st Century
Perhaps the most significant event in Northampton's recent
history was its designation as a New Town. The Northampton New
Town (Designation) Order was issued in February 1968, and in September
of the same year the Northampton Development Corporation was established
to implement the expansion plans. The Corporation's remit covered
areas outside the Borough boundaries as they were at that time.
Its programme included the development of the eastern and southern
districts, including major roads such as Nene Valley Way, Lumbertubs
Way and employment areas.
In the town centre, Northampton County Borough Council was
carrying out its own parallel redevelopment programme to complement
the work of the Development Corporation. In 1961, the population
of Northampton had been 105,421. Just ten years later and three
years into New Town status, this had grown to 133,800.
The Eastern District, the first area to be developed, was designed
to provide housing for 45,000 people. Development included new
estates, with shops, schools and employment areas, and the Weston
Favell Centre, which became home to what was then Europe's largest
Tesco superstore.
The Photo on
this page was taken by Peter Cockerill, Flash Photography, Northampton
© 1999.
