PCM logo design - the coat of arms of Northampton from the front of Holdenby
An independent, voluntary
project 'for the love of Park'
This project is not connected to the university. Views are our own.

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The 'F' logo of Facebook
Double-height building with tree to the left, in the sunshine
Delapre and Naseby, 2018
View from second floor of large building, with low-rise structure below
View from Cottesbrooke, 2018
Looking down a campus road, with modern buildings on the left, and trees on the right
Rockingham, Sulgrave and Lamport, 2018
Northampton College of Education (NCE) (1972-1975)
Nene College (1975-1999)
University College Northampton (UCN) (1999-2005)
University of Northampton (UON) (2005-present*)

* Whilst most of the site was sold, a rump part - featuring three halls - was retained.
WHAT HAPPENED TO BEAUTIFUL, BRILLIANT
PARK CAMPUS? - For a briefing on the background, see our Introduction
Chap in brown suit, sitting on a barrow, pushed by a chap in a grey-blue suit, in a canteen room, with people seated behind.
Reg Targett, Senior Gardener, at his retirement party in the refectory, 1984. Wheeling in Reg is Norman Tebbutt, Senior Caretaker
Students discuss ideas in the sunshine behind the Holdenby building
Student discussion outside at the centre of campus. We think the photo dates to around 1986/87
Four happy students at the men's hockey stall at freshers' fair
Freshers' Fair, 2013
We have taken thousands of photos and hours of video footage at Park - from the uni days, through demolition and house-building. On the day of the handover - 1st Nov 2018 - we launched a Facebook group which has become very successful. We lobby the university about keeping their remaining Park land, to encourage them to do more to love their heritage, as well as on matters of interest to group members - such as improving the official alumni provision.
Game of football with the Pavilion building behind
SU Pavilion bar and part of Back Field, 2016
Male student plays pool
'Central Park' - downstairs in the purpose-built SU, 2009
Richard Ogilvie points at the Ogilvie Avenue son, with his father, Eric, inset
Dr. Eric Ogilvie (inset circa 1980s) was Principal and then Director at Park between 1971-1989. When the land was being redeveloped, PCM suggested to Persimmon Homes that they consider Eric when submitting road names to the local council. They did, and the result is Ogilvie Avenue! Here, Eric's son is pictured by the sign - roughly where the rear of the Leather Centre used to stand - in 2022
As well as photos taken by PCM, other pictures on this page have been kindly provided by:
UON, UON Archive, UNSU, Doreen Addicott, Caroline Bond, Paula Bowles, Jonathan Grose, Lori Keet, Gavin Latz, David Lewis, Richard Ogilvie, Sue Vernon, Chris Watson

PCM chief photographer and cameraman: James Lund
11 smartly dressed students outside halls, including drinks and a picnic rug,
Drinks outside before the summer ball 1985!
A little Park lapin looks at the PCM cameraman
On behalf of PCM, a Park rabbit says:
"Thanks for visiting our website!"
Montage of a 2000-era jpeg notice directing users to press 'Start', with a photo of a group of IT Services staff posed at ITS Reception
Links (to our pals and contacts)
Various activities taking place on the Back Field, with the Pavilion on the right
Fine view of the Back Field and Pavilion during a 2015 Open Day with added fun activities!
FAB PICS: To browse a selection of Park photographs and video stills - put together with a whole lot of love - please see our very fine Gallery!

REFLECT ON WHAT USED TO BE: Pause to remember a site that meant so much to so many. Click here to read what the university chaplain has to say.

DOWNLOAD: Open the door to a huge number of free files from Park's history! All in our Download Central here.

JOIN: A friendly welcome awaits in our Facebook forum forum, which features 'Park Life' - 12 annotated photos per month, 'Just a Minute' - choice selected notes from the official college / uni meeting minutes, plus over 300 editions of 'Friday Photos' - each comprising 12 captioned photos!



Last page revision: May 2025


Park Campus Memories, Northampton, England, UK - - A wholly independent, voluntary project.
© PCM 2018-2025

Contact us via our Facebook group or mail@parkcampusmemories.org.uk







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Former University of Northampton main site,
mostly sold in 2018, demolished and redeveloped for housing
Students relax in the sunshine outside Holdenby and the gold disc above
Looking across to Fawsley, with Cottesbrooke beyond, 2018
80 acres of modern buildings set in lovely parkland. The excellent facilities included:
✓ five showcase lecture theatres & dozens of lecture & seminar rooms ✓ tens of IT suites ✓ hundreds of study bedrooms - 900 en suite - & launderettes ✓ residential management centre with excellent reputation, restaurant, bar & conference rooms ✓ large, characterful, modern library ✓ spacious restaurant with concessions ✓ purpose-built Students' Union with nightclub & three bars on site ✓ office space for all staff ✓ sports hall, staff gym & four large grass pitches ✓ GP doctors' surgery ✓ mini-supermarket ✓ bank with ATM ✓
Park also boasted:
✓ a working tannery ✓ mock courtroom & police custody suite, faux hospital ward, ambulance, dental suite & psychology assessment rooms ✓ sports science performance laboratories ✓ dance studio with sprung wooden floor ✓ chaplaincy ✓ an employment agency ✓ independent leather restoration centre ✓ weather station ✓

✓ an aviary ✓ pond with fish ✓ micro-brewery ✓ greenhouses for growing flowers for graduation ✓ woods used for forest activities with local groups of people with learning disabilities ✓ student allotment ✓ service bus office & facilities for washing vehicles using site ✓ transmitter for community radio station ✓

Park was also:
✓ headquarters of all key university departments, including Directorate, Admissions, HR, Estates, Finance, Payroll, IT & Student Services ✓
Park included:
Two exclaves of territory - separate from the main site - one with playing fields & the other a house accommodating the Vice Chancellor ✓ ha-ha wall from previous use as farm & gardens for the disabled ✓ large number of shrubs ✓ wild rabbits, squirrels & badgers ✓
An aerial view of the sizeable site
Aerial view of Park Campus, 2008
Two ladies smiling at a glow pary
UV Glow Party, SU, 2017
Looking through silver birch trees to modern buildings beyond
Brampton, Kelmarsh & Yelvertoft, 2018
Four students and a tutor
Psychology in Fawsley, 2006
Students in the modern and characterful library
Part of the excellent library, 2006
Students at work in the art room in 1988
BEd students, 1988
Portrait shot of young man with Back Field and buildings beyond, on a sunny summer's day
Back Field, 2016
Students listen to a lecture in progress
Grendon Lecture Theatre, 2015
A graduate standings next to flower beds, including 'Nene' in topiary
Graduation 1995
Students relax in the sunshine
Outside at Park in 2009
A student high up with feet either side of a corridor!
Fun in William Carey Hall, 1995
The old address:
Park Campus
Boughton Green Road
Northampton
NN2 7AL
United Kingdom

Redeveloped as 'Scholars Green' by Persimmon Homes, with remaining UON land now known as Scholars Green Student Village!

Don't forget our sister project about the other former UON site, Avenue Campus Memories! (ACM) website and forum

We are always looking for photos and printed items to scan - that can benefit others by being included in our Downloads section.

We would be delighted to receive any video material for digitisation.
← Please do browse our varied collection of useful web links!
Joan Hickson with dignitaries sitting in the sunshine
Locally-born actress, Joan Hickson (in royal blue) at Park for Graduation 1988
Male and female student close together by a tree
Goings-on at the back of Main Building in 1978!
Students relax in the sunshine outside Holdenby and the gold disc above
Holdenby (Main Building), 1986
Tree branches silhouetted against a blue sky, with the modern restaurant below, set amongst shrubs and trees
Award-winning restaurant, 2018
Plaque showing that the Park Campus was opened by Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon Margaret Thatcher MP on 10th Nov 1972
Introduction
Bench with grass, trees and a building in the distance - with summer sunshine
Gallery
Image showing a map of Park
Download Central
Looking sideways out of a window in halls, with the view reflected in the window on the right
Reflections
Rear of a large modern building, with trees - one with autumnal colours - in the sunshine
Rear of East Wing of Cottesbrooke, 2018
Sun Horse sculpture set amongst shrubs and buildings
The Sun Horse, 2015
Smaller tiered lecture theatre
Holdenby Lecture Theatre 2, 2018
Large tiered lecture theatre
Holdenby Lecture Theatre 1, 2018
Attendees in tiered lecture theatre, and a lady speaking at the front
Conference in Cottesbrooke C101, 2014
A man taking photographs with two buildings and shrubs behind
PCM photographer in action by Ashton and Brampton, 2018
Typical lecture / seminar room in Cottesbrooke - with chairs, tables and a PC
Cottesbrooke C312 - Lecture Room, 2018
Please help spread the word about Park Campus Memories!
There must be thousands of people who would like to see this site and possibly join our friendly and popular Facebook group. Do tell your friends!
Four students work in the library
Working in the library, 2011
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