By Tim Lambert
Late 9th Century Danes conquer eastern England and turn the village of Hamm tun into a fortified town
914 The name Northampton is first recorded. Northampton is a flourishing market town.
1010 The Danes burn Northampton
1086 Northampton has a population of about 1,500
1189 Northampton is given a charter (a document granting the people certain rights)
1215 Northampton has a mayor for the first time
1264 Northampton is sacked during a civil war
1300 Northampton has a population of about 2,500-3,000. It is famous for its wool-making industry.
1349 The Black Death devastates the population
1516 A fire devastates much of Northampton
1595 The Welsh House is built
1642 Northampton is already known for shoe-making
1660 Charles II orders the destruction of the walls around Northampton
1675 On 20 September a fire starts on St Marys Street. It spreads through Northampton and destroys half the houses in the town.
1744 A County Hospital is built. Northampton has a population of about 5,000.
1801 Northampton has a population of about 7,000
1823 The streets of Northampton are lit by gas
1838 A lunatic asylum is built in Northampton
1845 The railway reaches Northampton
1864 The Guildhall is built
1877 The first public library opens in Northampton
1880 Horse drawn trams run in the streets of Northampton
1884 The Royal Theatre is built
1892 Northampton gains electric street lights
1898 Victoria Park opens
1900 Northampton has a population of about 87,000
1901 The boundaries of Northampton are extended
1930 Shoemaking in Northampton is in rapid decline
1936 A public baths is built
1965 Northampton is designated a new town to which many Londoners will emigrate
1968 Northampton Development Corporation is formed
1970 Work begins on building the new town
1975 Grosvenor Shopping Centre is built
1983 Weston Favell Shopping Centre is built. The Derngate Theatre is built.
1985 The Northampton Development Corporation is wound up
2011 The population of Northampton is 195,000