Castle Park Heritage Part 10: Hazelrigg House and the Old Black Lion

Hazelrigg House

Hazelrigg House (also known as Hazelrigg Mansion) is an Elizabethan structure, likely built between 1570 and 1580, although features of the house suggest that it may have been built in phases towards the beginning of the 16th century.

This Grade II listed building is one of the few which survived the Great Fire of Northampton 1675 and would have been unique in a town where most dwellings were made of wood and thatch.

The house got its name from the Hesilrige family from Noseley Hall in Leicestershire. They purchased the house in 1680 and already owned the nearby Northampton Castle land. Around 1818, the family changed the spelling of their name from "Hesilrige" to "Hazelrigg.” They had sold the house by 1831, but the name "Hazelrigg House" stayed.

Legend says that Oliver Cromwell slept at Hazelrigg House before the Battle of Naseby hence the building also being known as 'Cromwell House'.

In the early 1800's, the building took on a new lease of life as a school, and it was later purchased by a local historian, who auctioned it to a lady's club many years later in 1913.

Architects have remodelled both the interior and exterior to give it the look it has today. The building has been occupied by a heritage organisation, a nursery school, a theatre company, and more recently a co-working office space business.

Old Black Lion

The Old Black Lion pub in Northampton, a Grade II listed building, was originally built in the 1600s. It burned down in the Great Fire of Northampton and was rebuilt around 1720 and given the name Old Black Lion.

By the 18th century, coaching inns were common for travellers, and many of these inns continue to operate as pubs today. The Old Black Lion was designed for easy access, with stables for horses and accommodation for guests.

Excavations uncovered a horseshoe-shaped structure, possibly a bread oven and the discovery of medieval pottery indicates the site has been used for nearly 1,000 years.

The Old Black Lion may have started as a bakery before evolving into an inn, and has been restored as a pub. The restoration has preserved both the archaeological features and historical stonework, returning the exterior to its original form.

Last updated 17 October 2025