The blaze was caused by sparks from an open fire on St. Mary's Street, near Northampton Castle.

Local people and businesses raised £25,000 towards re-building the town centre based around the Market Square.

King Charles II donated 1,000 tons of timber from Salcey Forest for the re-building.

[2] A commemorative statue of the king (dressed in a Roman toga) stands on the portico of the re-built All Saints church.

In 1724, the town's new appearance inspired author and traveler Daniel Defoe to describe Northampton as the "handsomest and best built town in all this part of England… finely rebuilt with brick and stone, and the streets made spacious and wide".