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Northampton (England)

Engish Borough

image by Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020
based on this photo captioned "Flag of the Northampton Borough Council"

On this page:

Introduction: Northampton
Description: Northampton Borough Flag
Northampton Borough Council Flag
Northampton Borough Council logos
Northampton Coat of Arms
University of Northampton
Northampton Rugby Football Club - The Saints
Northampton Town Football Club - The Cobblers

See also:

Introduction: Northampton

The history of Northampton reaches back to the Bronze Age. There is evidence of a Neolithic encampment with a large circular earthwork dating from about 3500 BC to 2000 BC. During the British Iron Age people lived in a protected fort on Hunsbury Hill with a circular ditch and a bank faced with a wall of timber enclosing an area of 160 acres which dates to around 400 BC.
Following the early Danish invasions the central area of the town was turned into a stronghold called a "burgh," by the Danes who turned the settlement into a military and administrative center of the Danelaw. In the 9th century Saint Regenhere was buried in Northampton. In 921 Edward the Elder, the Saxon King of Wessex who controlled the southern and western part of the English Kingdom of Mercia turned Northampton into the center of one of the new shires, and it prospered as a river port and trading center.
In 940, Northampton successfully resisted the invading forces of Danes, but was burnt in 1010 by a Danish army, and again in 1065 by two rebellious northern earls Edwin and Morcar. Despite this, the Domesday Book records Northampton as possessing 316 houses with a population of 2000 people, ranking in size between Warwick and Leicester. With the Norman conquest of England, the town rose to national importance: its geographical location in the center of England made Northampton a valuable strategic point for government and as a convenient meeting place for political, social, ecclesiastical and military events.
Northampton Castle was built by Simon de Senlis, who became the first Earl of Northampton around 1084. The original earth and timber stockade eventually was rebuilt in stone. Simon de Senlis also built the medieval town walls, which enclosed about 245 acres with four main gates. The castle became a royal residence from the reign of King Henry I in 1130 until that of King Richard II. King John regularly stayed at the castle and moved the Royal Treasury there in 1205. Over 30 parliaments were held in Northampton Castle with the last in 1380.
In the English Civil War Northampton supported Parliament and Oliver Cromwell's republican Roundhead army. A permanent military presence was established in the town with the completion of Gibraltar Barracks in 1797.
In the 18th century, Northampton had become a major center of footwear and leather manufacture. It soon grew beyond the old town walls and industry grew rapidly with the mechanization of factories by the middle of the 19th century. In 1815 the Grand Union Canal reached the town and the railways soon followed. This gave the town a direct link to the Midlands coal fields and to Birmingham, Manchester and London. The rail link and building of major highways in the area helped Northampton's growth as a commuter town for London. In 2000 and 2002 Northampton applied for city status, but failed on both occasions and still remains designated as a town.
Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020

Description: Northampton Borough Flag

I was only able to find one source of information about the flag above claimed to be the "Flag of the Northampton Borough Council." It was a short animated picture of the flag with the caption: "The flag of Northampton Borough flies from the tower of All Saints' Church as we prepare for Oak Apple Day celebrations on Sunday." It appears to be the town coat of arms offset to the hoist side of a maroon field. There is a narrow white fringe on the fly end that shows as it waves.
Source: The original GIF and downloaded mp4 showing one flap of the flag. That's all I have.
Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020

Northampton Borough Council Flag

image by Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020.

Another reported Northampton Borough Council Flag consists of the Council logo placed on a white field as shown here. I can find no official documentation verifying the use of this flag.
Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020

Northampton Borough Council Logos

images located by Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020.

The Northampton Borough Council uses a variety of logo versions on their publications, posters and on their website. These are examples.
Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020

Northampton Coat of Arms

images located by Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020

The arms of Northampton were first recorded in 1617 and several old royal seals and local emblems were combined. They show two lions standing on either side of the castle keep representing Northampton's castle built about AD 1100.

Official Blazon

Arms: Gules on a Mount Vert a Tower triple-tower Argent the portcullis raised Or supported by two Lions rampant guardant of the last.
Motto: Castello Fortior Concordia meaning "Peace is stronger than a fortress."

Source: Heraldry of the World: Northampton.
Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020

University of Northampton

image by Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020
Based on this photo located by Jan Mertens, 30 May 2008

From the University's History page we learn:
The first university existed between 1260-65, followed by the Northampton Technical College founded 1932, the School of Art in 1937; then their successor the College of Education formed Nene College in 1975. Additional colleges were incorporated between 1993-1997, then named the University College Northampton in 1999, and finally the University of Northampton (UNO) in 2005 with two campuses and 10,000 students.
The University of Northampton Corporation published a "Brand Manual" in which their logo is explained as: "Incorporation of the 'N' for Northampton and the 'U' for university/Movement in central design represents the River Nene, which flows through both the town and county, and has featured throughout the institution's history to illustrate a sense of unification and connection with our communities".
To the right of the logo appears the name "THE UNIVERSITY OF" and the place "NORTHAMPTON"; the first line dark blue, and the place name bigger and in lighter blue on the second. Pantone colours are given as: Dark blue 294 and Light blue 3135.
A flag is not mentioned, but this is where the photo comes in - although the first line of words actually appears to be grey in the photo.
Jan Mertens, 26 January 2009

original detail
images located by Jan Mertens, 30 May 2008

We see a heraldic pennant adorning a lectern that shows a white field with green edge, the University arms in full colour placed near the top (it is a vertically hung pennant). These are the University College arms (precursor), but they appear on the pennant which was in evidence during a University of Northampton event.
Jan Mertens, 28 January 2009

Arms image located by Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020

I could find no official blazon or the meaning/origins of these arms.
Source of arms: Heraldry of the World: University of Northampton.
Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020

Northampton Rugby Football Club
The Saints

images by Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020.

The Northampton Saints are the professional Rugby Union club from Northampton. They started in 1880 as "Northampton St. James" where their nickname "Saints" comes from. They are probably one of the most popular rugby teams in the world. They play in the Premiership Rugby Division, the top division of English rugby. The team plays their home games at Franklin's Gardens in West Northampton. The team colors are black, green, and gold.
Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020

images by Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020
All four flags are based on this photo. Also see this page for more NRC flags

Northampton Town Football Club
The Cobblers

images by Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020
Images based on this photo and this photo.

The Northampton Town Football Club is a third tier professional football club based in the town of Northampton playing in League One. The "Cobblers" have played their home games at Sixfields Stadium since 1994. Their nickname comes from the town's history in the shoe-making industry. Their team dates back to 1897 when first founded. They traditionally play in claret and white uniforms.
Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020

image by Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020
Images based on this photo.

image by Pete Loeser, 14 December 2020
Image based on this photo.