The Welsh House
Built in
1595 on Market Square – one of the few buildings to escape
the Great Fire of 1675. It has Welsh motto around coat of arms on
its facade meaning, "Without God, nothing. With God, enough." Its
appearance had changed considerably over the centuries but when it
was incorporated into the Grosvenor Shopping Centre it was
reconstructed to its original design. The building which stands
today is a replica, only the staircase and the arms being
original.
Welsh House 1595. Its Motto Heb
dyw heb dym Dywa digon [without god without everything. With god
enough]
During the Great Fire of Northampton in
1675, when fire broke out in St. Mary`s Street and swept round the
town, townsfolk fled to the Market Square, thinking to be safe but
were surrounded by flames. They escaped by passing through this
house, then owned by Dr. Danvers, into the orchards behind
it.
In 1831 the Northampton Herald newspaper was founded and initially
based at the Welsh House. It is presently home to Yorks Travel
agents. It got its name from the Welshmen who drove cattle to
Northampton fairs and is perhaps the oldest building belonging to
the late Elizabethan era.
