NORTHAMPTON began as a Saxon village. It was called Hamm tun, which means the village by the well-watered meadow.
Later it was called North-Hamm-tun, probably to distinguish it from Southampton. The name Northampton first appeared in writing in 914. When they occupied Eastern England in the late 9th century the Danes turned Northampton into a stronghold called a burh. Despite the fact that it was a fortified settlement Northampton was captured and burned by the Danes in 1010.
In 1066 ASHTON was held freely by ALDEN. In 1086 the main estate there was held by Winemar the Fleming, under whom Dodin held one hide and fourfifths of one virgate, worth 12s., and Bondi held four-fifths of half a hide, worth 4s. The land held by BONDI reappears in the early 12th century Northamptonshire Survey as the four small virgates held by William Rufus 'Ad hydam'. ASHTON is a an ancient Northamptonshire Settlement (Salford), held at the time of the Domesday survey by Winemar, passing by 1316 to Philip Le Lou, and by 1541 having been in the hands of Sir Thomas Colepeppers family / Clifford, it had become part of the extensive holdings of the Duke of Grafton.
St Andrews Priory (a small abbey) was built about 1100 in Broad Street. Delamere Abbey was built in 1145. In the 13th century friars arrived in Northampton. Early in the 12th century the first Earl of Northampton built the Church of the Sepulchre when he returned home from the crusades. The Earl also built a castle to safeguard the town and it was built with stone walls around the church town. Northampton gained its first charter in 1189. (A charter was a document granting the townspeople certain rights). However in 1264 there was a rebellion against the king. At first the rebels held Northampton but a royalist army captured the town and sacked it. Soon afterwards Northampton suffered a decline.
Winemar's manor formed part of the Northamptonshire lands of his barony of Hanslope (Bucks.). This honor became Michael of Hanslope's by 1131; his only surviving heir, his daughter Maud, married William Maudit, who was listed as the tenant in chief at Ashton in the Northamptonshire Survey. His descendant, also William Maudit, held Ashton and Easton Maudit in chief in 1242. By 1262 Ashton was held by Eustace son of Thomas; in 1284 Eustace held of the earl of Warwick, who held it of the king as half a knight's fee. In 1315 and again in 1346 Ashton was held as a quarter of a fee, on the first occasion of the fees of the late Guy Beauchamp, earl of Warwick, on the second of the fee of Maudit. The overlordship of the earls of Warwick was also recorded in 1402 and 1445. The last Thomas CULPEPER leased Ashton manor in 1534 to William Marriott of Ashton for 22 years.