Image caption: Mystery Tours actors at the Guildhall. Image credit: NTC
Picture this: the year is 1675, and flames are tearing through Northampton. Within just a few hours, three-quarters of the town is reduced to ash. Fast forward 350 years, and that fiery chapter of history is being brought dramatically back to life inside one of Northampton’s most iconic buildings – the Guildhall – as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days.
On Saturday 13th September, between 11am and 3pm, the Guildhall will throw open its doors for a fire-themed day of stories, performances, and a peek behind the scenes. Local theatre group The Mystery Tours will be roaming the historic rooms (think the grandeur of the Great Hall and the drama of the Court Room), re-creating the chaos, courage and consequences of the Great Fire of Northampton.
It’s not just about performances, though. You’ll also get the rare chance to step inside the Mayor’s Parlour, learn about Northampton’s civic history, and even meet today’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor. As Mayor Jane Birch puts it, “The fire had a huge impact on the town, which can be seen to this day,” and this family-friendly day promises to bring those stories to life in vivid, memorable ways.
And if you like your history interactive, there’s more. You can follow the Great Fire Trail through the town centre using the Explore Northampton app. Simply start on St Mary’s Street and follow the trail of floor stickers, listening to virtual guides as they tell tales of smoke, survival, and rebuilding. It’s just under a mile long (so very doable with kids in tow) and dotted with five educational boards near All Saints’ Church for an extra dose of storytelling.
For the true history buffs, there’s even a special guided walking tour with local historian Ruth Thomas on the same day. Ninety minutes of storytelling on foot, but be warned – places are limited to 20, so get booking quickly via the town council’s website.
This fiery celebration is just one of many free events happening across Northamptonshire between 12th and 21st September as part of the nationwide Heritage Open Days festival. With this year’s theme focusing on architecture, visitors to the Guildhall will also be invited to vote for their favourite Northampton building (a fun bit of civic pride), and families can join in a heritage trail designed just for kids.
Oh, and if you fancy arriving in vintage style? Check out the ever-popular Heritage Buses, running throughout the festival.
The takeaway: Whether you’re in it for the live performances, the secret rooms, the trails, or the buses, this is your chance to see Northampton’s history come alive – and walk (quite literally) in the footsteps of a fire that shaped the town forever.
