ENN110321 - 1a London End, Irchester, 2021 (Excavation)

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Location

Grid reference Centred SP 9268 6557 (11m by 15m)
Civil Parish IRCHESTER, North Northamptonshire (formerly Wellingborough District)

Technique(s)

Organisation

Souterrain Archaeological Service Limited

Date

July-August 2021

Description

The discovery of a medieval causeway alongside the former course of a brook and in proximity to a medieval manorial centre. A unique survival in the rear garden of a 17th century cottage. The structural evidence comprised a metalled, raised route-way that was in use from the 13th century through to at least the 14th / 15th century, with three distinct phases of construction and suspected evidence of structural damage as a result of severe weather conditions during the medieval climatic anomaly. The causeway originated in the late 13th century as a raised track-way of cobbles set in clay, and flanked by a ditch. A more robust causeway of pitched limestone slabs and kerbing was built over it in the 13th / 14th century. In the same period the causeway appeared to have suffered severe erosion and subsequently underwent significant repair and widening. During the 14th / 15th century during there was a natural accumulation of soil on either side. By the 16th century, when a stone-lined drain was built through the structure, it was possibly no more than an earthwork. Exploration of the historic landscape context of the causeway - its spatial relationship with the manorial complex and its possible route - suggests that it may have been a trade route. It is further hypothesised that the causeway’s construction may well have been a direct response to severe climatic anomalies of the period. The evidence thus has the following research interests/themes: Medieval road construction Local/ regional trade routes The Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA).

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <1> Report: Wilson, M. 2022. A medieval Causeway at 1A london End, Irchester, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Excavation Report. Souterrain Archaeological Services fieldwork rep.. SOU21-751. Souterrain Arch. Services. https://doi.org/10.5284/1113084.
  • <2> Journal: Crank, N. (Editor). 2022. South Midlands Archaeology (52). South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter. 52. C.B.A.. p. 72-4.

Map

External Links (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

  • Medieval causeway, west of London End (Monument)

Parent/preceding Site Events/Activities (1)

  • 1A London End, 2020 (Trial trench) (Ref: SOU20-694)

Record last edited

Jul 23 2024 3:00PM

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