Monument record 1681/1/1 - Market Place

The late date of the market creation and the high quality and time depth of documentation means that it may be possible to determine how the market place was established and whether it involved and significant change in the arrangement of tenements in the settlement. The market place has not apparently been subject to large scale disturbance for Iron Age features have been recovered from the southern part of the area. This might indicate that there will be good survival of medieval and post medieval structures within the market place, perhaps including less substantial structures.

{1} The market place was established on the slightly higher ground to the north east of church and manor, known as Hall Hill from at least 1482. It is unclear whether the Hall Hill was an existing medieval green which was simply utilised as a market place or if there was a re-planning of the central area of the village to accommodate a new market place. In the latter case perhaps widening an existing street.

It would appear that there were agricultural tenements fronting onto the Hall Hill, not just cottages, for in 1618 reference is made to a 'sute house' on Hall Hill and then in 1624 to a half 'sute house' there. Even in the true market towns such a pattern might be found, particularly where the town had evolved from an agricultural village, for example as seen at Oundle. In contrast to the market towns there is no evidence at least in the early 18th century for a grouping of alehouses or inns around the market place, the few in the village being scattered in several different streets, though not all of the alehouses have been located.
For further details of the market see section 7. in main report.

{2} In the area of the former medieval market place the modern road make-up directly overlay the natural limestone. No archaeological deposits were present.

<1> Foard G, 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Brigstock (Medieval + Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100441.

<2> HYLTON T., 1994, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49181.

Record last edited

Sep 23 2011 9:30AM