Important to mark Northampton's Great Fire, says Earl Spencer

BBC News

18-05-2025

Earl Spencer has said it was "important" to remember the Great Fire of Northampton as the town begins preparations to marks its 350th anniversary of the inferno.The 1675 fire destroyed 700 out of the town's 850 buildings and claimed 11 lives.The earl, who has written several historical books and co-hosts a history podcast, has researched the fire ahead of a series of events and exhibitions.He said from the contemporary accounts he has read it "was more devastating than the Great for of London for its scale".
The devastation in London took place in 1666, destroying 80% of the city.Earl Spencer said the fire in Northampton burned down almost "the entirety" of the county town."It's important for us to remember it – this was something that was an existential threat to a town," he said.
Earl Spencer said it was also a story of how an area can rebuild after devastation."There was an account of the town of Northampton in 1724 which said it was one of the most handsome towns in this part of England and that's thanks to the regeneration after the fire," he said.Art historian James Miller, who is working on the anniversary events, said at the time of the fire a local lawyer called Richard Rainsford, who worked in London, was able to help with the aftermath."He had been a commissioner at the Great Fire of London so he knew what the pitfalls were," he said.The events to mark the anniversary begin on 29 May with the Oak Apple Day parade and a service at All Saints Church.It is celebration of King Charles II, who donated over 1,000 tons of timber to reconstruct All Saints' Church and halved the town's taxes for seven years following the fire.Earl Spencer said it was a "celebration of the restoration of Northampton".
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