Guide To Northampton Castle

I don’t know why this place is getting any stars at all. I went to have a look and it’s a litter strewn meeting place for the local addicts. I’d be embarrassed if I was the council. I can’t believe they knocked it down to put in a train station and now it’s being advertised as a tourist attraction!

Once a large and important castle stood in Northampton but now very little remains, sadly there was no access when I went today.

Northampton there was once a massive and important Castle, with substantial defences and so important that parliament was held there during the mediaeval period.

It was the first major Norman Castle a day’s ride from London.

The favourite castle of King John, who visited 30 times, he moved his royal treasury to the Castle in 1205, and the Castle was associated with a mint for coins of the realm. Tournaments and feast days were held at the Castle, and the trial of the “troublesome priest” Thomas Becket was held at the Castle.

It was built (probably atop original Saxon defences) first from wood then from the distinctive sandstone which can be seen to this day in various buildings about the town.

All that remains of the castle today is the Postern Gate, near Northampton Railway Station.

Let’s be honest, there’s nothing really there. Just a plaque a top a litter strewn mould and a couple of statues.

There is a qr code there, so you can look up the history of what was once there.