1808.] 
the following account of Northamp- 
ton :—— 
Northampton, the capital of the coun- 
ty of that name, has long been remarked 
for the pleasantness of its situation, and> 
the general neatness of its appearance: 
itis builé upon an elevated ground, slop- 
ing down to the river Nen, that bounds 
it-on the suuthern and western sides, 
over which is an ancient bridge of stone. 
This town is nearly equally divid- 
ed by two lines of principal streets, 
that cut each other at right angles: 
one running east and west, compre- 
hending the several streets of St. Giles’, 
the George-row, and Goldstreet; this 
line may be nearly a mile in length; 
the other, which is the bigh road trom 
London te the north, runs north and 
south, through Sheep-street, the Drapery, 
and Bridge- street, to the river; the puimt 
of intersection being at the George-inn, 
and nearly the centre of the town: this 
line is something more than. a mile long. 
Opposite the George-row is a neat range 
of buildings, called Mercers’-rew ; in the 
large space between these paraliel ranges, 
the fine church of All Saints, with its 
noble portico, and spacious church-yard, 
is situated: Low-stune Wall divides it 
from the carriageroads on its north and 
south sides. This church was destroyed 
by fire, with the greater part of the town, 
in the reign of Chafles the Second, pGE 
statue is placed on the centre of the Ao 
tico, in gratitude for hts munificence, 1 
aiding its rebuilding, as appears by ie 
mscription. At the south-west corner of 
the church-yard is a handsome conduit, 
of stone. 
Separated from the London road, by 
the eastern side of the street cailed the 
Drapery, is the market-place, an ex- 
tensive quadrangle, bounded on three 
sides by rows of handsome houses, with 
splendid shops; on the foarth by the Pea- 
cock inn, and a number of genteel pri- 
vate houses. Pennant, in the Journey 
from Chester to London, styles the mar- 
. ket-place singularly elegant. The nor- 
thern side is distinguished by the naine of 
the Parade. . Having a very wide pave- 
ment, it affords a pleasant and spacious 
promenade: here, on fine evenings, is the 
common lounge of the younger part of 
the community. 
Besides the streets before mentioned, 
there are several other subordinate ones ; 
of these, Abingdon-street, and the Horse- 
market, are the privcipals the former is 
a very handsome and airy street: the 
upper ‘patt consists of large well-built 
ee - 
Account of Northampton. 
467 
stone mansions, the residence of profes- 
sional persons, and gree out of trade. 
This town is not remarkable so much 
for the splendour of its buildings, as for 
the general appearance of neatness and 
cleantiness, which pervades it; and since 
the act for paving and lighting it took 
place, few towns can be named where 
these useful regulations have been su 
well acted apon. 
The greater part of the houses are 
built of a white, or brown stone, which 
is dug from quarries in the neighbour- 
hood. For durability, as well as elegant 
appearance, the white is much superior, 
the brown or red stone being of a soft, 
friable quality. The number of houses 
is about 1083, and the inhabitants about 
6000. 
Besides the church of All Saints, ale 
ready mentioned, there are three other 
parish churches, St. Sepulchre’s, in the 
northern part of the town; St. Peter's, im 
the west; and St. Giles’, in the eastern : 
the two former are of great antiquity. 
St. Sepulchre’s was originally one of the 
few round churches in this country, buile 
after the model of the Holy Sepulchre at 
Jerusalem, by the Knights Templars, at 
the time of, or soon after, the Crusades. 
Since its first erection, the tower and 
spire, and the nave, have been added to 
the orginal circular building. This dis- 
cordant appearance has a disagreeable 
eflect. The church-yard is enclosed by 
a wall, separating it from Sheep-street. 
St. Peter’s. church 1s a very ancientSaxcr 
structure, supposed to be one of the oldest 
is the kinedoin. Engravings of betia 
these churches are to be seen in Britton 
and Brayley’s Architectural Antiquities. 
The northern side of the church faces 
Gold-street, separated only by the church- 
yard. St. Giles’ has nothing peculiarly 
worthy of notice: it stands at the fur- 
ther extremity of Giles’-street, alimost iu 
the ficlds. It has a large and senteel 
congrevation. The interior is very neat. 
ata short distance from this charch is 
the magnificent General Infirmary, erect- 
ed, by the contributions of the nobility 
and gentry of the county, about the year 
1793. Previous to that period, the In- 
firmary House adjciued the County Flall, 
contigueus to the goal, in the very centre 
of the town. <A worse situation cannot 
well be imagined, to which the new is a 
striking contrast, having every advantage 
of pure air, and unobstructed prespect. 
The view from the south front commands 
the long reach of the river, with its smil. 
ing meadows, and verdant banks: on 
the 
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