Northampton in West Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Visitors to the Castle
Photographed by Ray Gurganus, May 25, 2026
1. Visitors to the Castle Marker
Following Henry I's death, Stephen of Blois, Empress Matilda's cousin, seized the throne. As Empress Matilda was recognised as the heir, this sparked a rivalry amongst the cousins and a civil war broke out.
Simon De Senlis II played an important role during this time fighting for King Stephen of England in 1141 at the Battle of Lincoln. As he stayed loyal to Stephen, Simon II was given back his title as Earl of Northampton.
Stephen fell ill at Northampton in 1142, and rumours spread that he had passed away. However, these rumours were later proven false as Stephen recovered and travelled north to rally support, attempting to convince those in the area to side with him.
In 1146, the Earl of Chester arrived at Northampton Castle and requested that Stephen meet him in person to offer help against the Welsh. Suspecting a trap, Stephen had the Earl thrown into the castle's dungeons instead.
Simon II passed
this page online
In 1154, Stephen died, and the throne passed to Henry II, the son of Empress Matilda. King Henry II's reign began, marking a new chapter in English history.
Henry II convened a great council at Northampton Castle in 1157, further solidifying his power and influence in the realm. (Marker Number 6.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1131.
Location. 52° 14.261′ N, 0° 54.236′ W. Marker is in Northampton, England, in West Northamptonshire. It is on Chalk Lane. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14 Chalk Lane, Northampton, England NN1 2RW, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Thomas Becket (here, next to this marker); The Castle (here, next to this marker); The Story of Simon de Senlis (here, next to this marker); Royals and the Castle (here, next to this marker); Stories from the Castle (a few steps from this marker); Earl of Northampton (a few steps from this marker); Anglo-Saxon Northampton (a few steps from this marker); Hazelrigg House and the Old Black Lion (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northampton.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on September 24, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
