Businesses to take a trip down Northampton’s memory lane
Town centre businesses will showcase pictures of their shopfronts from years gone by in a three-week celebration of Northampton’s history and heritage. Northampton town centre Business Improvement (BID) has organised and funded ‘Northampton Memories’ – a campaign which coincides with the National Heritage weekends and will include 60 local businesses displaying A4 gold framed posters of their buildings as far back as the 1800s and beyond.
“Our town centre boasts a very rich and vibrant history and our Northampton Memories campaign will celebrate all of that positive nostalgia,” said Northampton town centre BID project manager, Mark Mullen.
“Local businesses in particular are very passionate about their past, and we have worked with Northampton Central Library to select the very best images from their archive of thousands so that businesses can display them in their windows for all to see. We hope to generate lots of enthusiasm and a real buzz on social media and among shoppers who will make a special visit into the town centre to look for the Northampton Memories frames.”
Some businesses, including 78 Derngate, have sourced their own pictures to display. House Manager, Liz Jansson said: “We have lots of old photos which capture what 78 Derngate was like back in the day so of course we jumped at the chance to get involved in Northampton Memories.
Northampton is steeped in history and Bassett-Lowke, the owner of 78 Derngate and the man responsible for commissioning the famous Glaswegian architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, to work on the house, was a local businessman himself and an influential character of the town, so this is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to come together to really celebrate our past.”
Northampton Memories will run from 24th August – 15th September and the BID is working in collaboration with Northamptonshire Central Library, Northampton Museum and the University of Northampton (UoN), who will be showcasing historic images of students and university buildings.
Displays in the Grosvenor Centre will also be on show as part of the campaign.
Watch Northampton Memories unfold on social media by following @NorthamptonBID and #NorthamptonMemories.
Participating businesses:
- Abington FX
- The Wedgwood
- Watts Furnishers
- Martin’s
- Scope
- Sharps
- Waterstones
- Hope Centre Shop
- Thomas Cook
- Mothers Wok & Sushi
- Clintons
- Edinburgh Wollen Mill
- A-Plan Insurance
- Skipton
- Thorntons
- The Sandwich Bar
- The Church Restaurant
- Voni Blu
- Olly B’s
- Bang and Olufsen
- 78 Derngate (They have their own photos)
- The Wine Connection
- Market Tavern
- Fine and Country
- The Salvation Army (Gold St)
- Yorkshire Bank
- Liana’s Fancy Dress
- Michael Jones Jewellers
- Xchange 4 Cash
- John Franklins
- Merland
- Home-Start Northampton
- Albion Brewery
- Café Track
- Montague Jeffery
- St Giles Ale House
- Vintage Guru
- Johnson Underwood
- Bonds Jewellers
- St Gyles Jewellers
- Dreams Coffee Lounge
- Abraxas Cookshop
- Bread and Butter
- Moulton Kitchens
- Mooch
- The Magic Bean Emporium
- Studio Nails
- The Zipyard
- Warhammer
- Blenders
- St Giles Cheese
- Singh and Smile
- Northampton Health Store
- The Hub of Northampton
- Snappy Snaps
- Naked Hairdressing
- Electromist
- The Cordwainer
- Matchbox Cafe
- Northampton University
Notes to Editors
Northampton town centre Business Improvement District (BID)Northampton town centre BID was officially launched in 2011 following a successful vote by businesses to make Northampton town centre a designated Business Improvement District. The BID status was renewed in October 2015 for five more years until 2020.A BID is a defined area where the ratepaying businesses decide on improvements to their area, they then vote on the plans and agree to invest in the delivery of activities which directly impact upon their business turnover and profit. This money is then ring-fenced to provide the improvements agreed through the BID plan and can be used to generate other revenue to boost the pot of money available to deliver the plan. Business representatives in Northampton have developed a five year action plan around the key objectives of promoting the area. pfbb UK is a specialist BID Project Management company which develops and manages a wide range of Business Improvement Districts across the UK including town centres and industrial estates.
