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.
