University conference to debate town's Great Fire

A university is to hold a conference for people with an interest in learning more about a fire that destroyed most of a town in the 17th Century.

The Great Fire of Northampton in 1675 destroyed 700 of the town's 850 buildings and claimed 11 lives.

A programme of cultural events is being held to mark the 350th anniversary and the University of Northampton event on 4 July will provide a platform to discuss the disaster.

The university said the symposium, to be held between 10:00 and 16:00 BST at the Senate Building on its Waterside Campus, would look at the "emotional impact and legacy of such a monumental moment in the town's history".

Talks from local historians will be held throughout the day and the conference will be free to enter but will require booking prior to the event.

The symposium is part of a five-month programme of events and activities to showcase the story of the fire and the rebuild that followed.

Earl Spencer, who has written several historical books and co-hosts a history podcast, previously said that the Great Fire of Northampton "was more devastating than the Great Fire of London for its scale".

The 1666 fire in London destroyed 80% of the town.

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.

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