Alternative accommodation for Northampton households

Northampton knows about rebuilding. The Great Fire of 1675, started by sparks from a thatched cottage by the castle, swept east on a strong westerly wind and destroyed about 600 buildings, three-quarters of the town centre, in 24 hours. Charles II gave timber from the royal forests of Salcey and Whittlebury to help.

Water is the commoner risk today. The River Nene runs through the town and rainfall, though not high at about 650 mm a year, is unpredictable, with flooding in 1998 among the events recorded.

A whole house in Coventry is right when the household's working life or family support is on the Coventry side. Humber Hub is about 32 miles by road from Northampton, Stoke Lodge and Stoke House about 33 miles and Sullivan Heights about 35 miles, so it is not a local option for a family that needs to stay close to a Northampton school.

Where it fits, insurers and loss adjusters can book for the household, with the claim reference on the pro-forma invoice and the stay extended if the work overruns.

Before the fire, Charles II had already ordered the walls and much of the castle pulled down because the town sided with Parliament. Local people raised about £25,000 towards the rebuilding, which widened the streets and used brick, stone and tile.