Local historian, Mike Ingram
Northamptonshire Heritage Forum was saddened by the passing of Mike Ingram just before Christmas. It came as a great shock to his family, friends, colleagues and his many supporters.
Mike was a medieval historian and author. Many members of the Forum enjoyed his tours and talks. Born in Northampton, Mike was devoted to recording its history. He traced his family back, first to the owners of the Cross Keys Public House in Sheep Street at the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, then further research led to discovery of a family member being a confectioner on the Market Square at the end of the Nineteenth Century.
His books included Northampton Guildhall, A Beginner’s Guide, published in 2020. This was particularly significant as Mike was a Freeman of the Borough and loved the Guildhall. It was at the Guildhall that I had my last conversation with Mike. We had attended the Remembrance Sunday service at All Saints Parish Church on Sunday 14 November. Mike was extremely positive and was looking forward to his next publication, due in early 2022.
Also in 2020, Mike published Northampton, 5,000 Years of History, which was the result of a lifetime of research. This significant publication for the county won the ‘Hindsight Award for Best Published Work’ in the Northamptonshire Heritage Forum Awards 2021. Mike was delighted to receive this award.
He also published books about battlefields and was Chairman of the Northamptonshire Battlefields Society. His publications Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth, The 1460 Battle of Northampton and The Battles and Battlefields of Northamptonshire were all well received.
Mike had also been a trustee and a guide for the Naseby Battlefield Project.
The Northamptonshire Heritage Forum sends its condolences to Mike’s family, friends and colleagues.
Martin Lawrence
Information taken from: Northampton Guildhall, A Beginner’s Guide, Northampton, 5,000 Years of History, The 1460 Battle of Northampton and The Battles and Battlefields of Northamptonshire.
