Monument record 3788/1 - Saxon Cemetery, Stamford Road

Stamford Road Anglo Saxon mixed cemetery. Principally a cremation cemetery with a few inhumations. Initially discovered in 1903, with further finds in 1904 and 1929

{1} During building works in 1903 on adjoining plots near the main Stamford Road numbers of cinerary urns were found in a space about 100ft long. One urn was very close to the road and the furthest was 110ft away. 80-90 urns and 6 skeletons were recovered. Urns varied in size, shape and markings. They lay between 1.5ft-3ft deep and some were broken possibly by ploughing. Urns were spread fairly evenly but in irregular groups over whole area. They contained fragments of partly calcined bone. Also 3 or 4 good bronze tweezers and 3 broken combs and fragments of molten glass which were probably beads. Also bone spindle whorl and a small knife. One urn contained 27 thin and round discs of bone c.5/8ins diameter, another contained 9 small round pebbles. 6 fairly disturbed skeletons were found among the urns. All were buried about 3ft deep and roughly enclosed by large unshaped stones some of which appeared to be burnt. A plain vessel was found close to the skull of one skeleton but was not a cinerary urn. In 1904 a sewer trench along centre of Stamford Road turned up the foot of a late cruciform brooch and a broken urn. In 1929 further excavations were undertaken immediately south-west of those of 1903. Four east-west orientated graves were revealed, each containing fragments of skeletons lying face upwards. The graves were shallow trenches formed of pieces of rough limestone some of which showed traces of fire. No coffins were found but over each grave was heap of earth as a mound. 16 urns were found in various parts and mostly very broken. Each contained numbers of small bones and only a few showed signs of burning. There were also a few bronze ornaments. Both urns and inhumations lay 2ft 6in to 3ft deep. Some are AF type and many ornamented. The cemetery is thought to have been long-lasting judging from the early urns and late cruciform brooch.

{2} Saxon cemetery, mainly cremations. 80-90 urns and 6 skeletons found during building works in 1903. IN 1929 further excavation revealed 4 more graves and 16 urns. Late C19th excavations suggest that the cemetery may not extend in a north and westerly direction, while evaluation to the south in 1997 demonstrated that the cemetery does not extend south of Stamford Road.

{3} Cemetery was first discovered around 1900 when area was being developed for building. Fragments of urns and part of a brooch were found. In 1903 80 or 90 other urns containing cremations were found as well as bronze tweezers and glass. Six skeletons and a plain urn were also recorded. In 1904 a cruciform brooch and part of another urn came to light. In 1929 excavations in the area produced four other inhumations, 16 urns and bronze ornaments.

{8} Four burials were observed in east-west alignment, the bodies laid in shallow trenches with no sign of coffins but heaped earth and stones. 16 urns were recovered, three of which were in good condition. All vessels contained a number of small bones but only a few showed signs of burning.

{8} Features observed 1903 and 1929. Saxon burial site including inhumations and cremations. In 1903 80-90 urns were recovered. 16 urns are recorded in 1929 but sherds from 38 different vessels are held in Kettering Museum. There is a total of all or parts of at least 96 vessels from the site. Remains of another 45 vessels are known to be in Northampton Museum and another 50 vessels held here are probably from the same site. It is likely therefore that there are at least 146 urns from the site. At least 12 urns were found by workmen digging foundations for Mr Pratts house.

{10} Finds made include Saxon brooch, bronze tweezers, bone combs, beads, a spindle whorl, a knife, a cruciform brooch and skeletons. Illustrations.

{20} Anglo Saxon mixed cemetery in the Stamford Road area, Kettering, SP 876792.

Several cinerary urns were found at the junction of Edinburgh and Stamford Roads before 1902, urn fragments and part of a brooch were found in Kettering; further finds in 1903 during building operations near the Stamford road, investigated by Northants Exploration Society, six skeletons and some 80 to 90 urns containing cremations, bronze tweezers, bone combs, possible beads, a bone spindle whorl and a knife were found; a broken urn and part of a cruciform brooch came from a sewer trench in the middle of Stamford Road in 1904; further excavations in 1929
NW of the 1903 finds produced 4 inhumations, 16 urns with evidence of a cremation, bronze ornaments etc.

The cemetery was probably long lasting judging by the early urns and late cruciform brooch.The late 19th century excavations suggest that the cemetery may not extend in a north and westerly direction, while evaluation to the south in 1997 has demonstrated that the cemetery does not extend to the south of the Stamford road. Clearly the detailed topographical relationship to the two roads will be a significant research issue, although the state of preservation of the rest of the cemetery may be poor due to 20th century development.

{21} Kettering cemetery is almost entirely cremation-based, with 80 or 90 urns and only six skeletons. Usual objects such as tweezers and combs and melted glass beads were found with burnt stones in urns.

{23} (SP 876792). The Kettering long-boss potter, (material istypified by elaborate decorations), has been shown to have produced items at Thorpe Malsor and Newton-in-the-Willows.

{25} Kettering Museum have 7 urns from this cemetery on display together with a selection of grave furniture; they also have "about 70" urns in store which "still hold their original contents".

<1> Foard G.F., 2000, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Kettering (Medieval + Post Medieval), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100747.

<2> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.244 (unchecked) (Series). SNN10247.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.103 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<4> KENNETT D.H., 1969, An Anglo-Saxon Potter in Northamptonshire, p.37-41 (unchecked) (Article). SNN58510.

<5> GOTCH J.A., 1903, Some Anglo-Saxon Antiquities Found at Kettering, p.307-314 (unchecked) (Report). SNN58549.

<6> BULL F.W., 1904, Recent Discoveries of Roman and Anglo-Saxon Remains at Kettering, (unchecked) (Article). SNN58551.

<7> GEORGE T.J., 1903, The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Kettering, p.121-127 (unchecked) (Report). SNN55352.

<8> 1903, Cuttings Book, 25/3/1903 (checked) (Uncertain). SNN44296.

<9> Northampton Museum Records, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN126.

<10> Kettering Museum Records, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN28658.

<11> Kennett D.H., 1978, Anglo-Saxon Pottery, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77370.

<12> 1904, Associated Architectural Societies Reports, p.385-86 (unchecked) (Series). SNN58554.

<13> BROWN G.B., 1915, The Arts In Early England (Vol.4), p.782 (unchecked) (Series). SNN36226.

<14> BULL F.W., 1908, HISTORY OF KETTERING, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN44436.

<15> Hall, D (Ed), 1979, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (9), 10 (Journal). SNN28703.

<16> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP87NE1 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<17> 1903, THE STANDARD, (unchecked) (Article). SNN58463.

<18> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.847; (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<19> Walker C., 2013, Archaeological Desk-Based Heritage Assessment of Land at The Former Avondale School, Kettering, Northamptonshire, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN109854.

<20> Meaney A.L., 1964, Gazetteer of Early Anglo-Saxon Burial Sites, (unchecked) (Gazetteer). SNN10289.

<21> BROWN G.B., 1915, The Arts In Early England (Vol.4), p.782 (checked) (Series). SNN36226.

<22> Markham C.A., 1930, An Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Kettering, p.254-55 (unchecked) (Report). SNN58552.

<23> Myres, J N L, 1969, Anglo Saxon Pottery and the Settlement of England (Book). SNN113158.

<24> HALL D.N., 1978, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (8), p. 12 (Newsletter). SNN60830.

<25> Colquhoun, FD, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 FDC 02-DEC-69 (Notes). SNN112950.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:09PM