Monument record 4156/17 - Tenters Close

The small size of Rockingham might be taken, as at Thrapston, as an indication that the settlement never developed either in the medieval or the post medieval period as a significant focus of industrial production, unlike some other larger towns. However it would appear that, at least in the 18th century if not before there was cloth production in the village, for a Tenter Close lies immediately north of the village, named as such on the 1806. Although it is also depicted it is not named 1615 map and so it is unclear how early production began. In this light of this evidence it may be significant that there were two watermills in this small township in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the addition during the 17th century of a windmill. This may not simply reflect the need for corn milling. Although no specific record of the function of the mill has been identified, it is possible that the construction of a second water mill was as a fulling mill related to the development of cloth production at Rockingham in the post medieval period. Unfortunately the militia lists for Rockingham in 1777 does not record the trades in the settlement, unlike most other settlements and so it has not been possible to determine if the trade continued in the later part of the 18th century. (1)

See also section 2 'Early History' in main report for a discussion of the possible association between this area and the early settlement of the village.

<1> FOARD G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Rockingham (Medieval and Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100473.

<2> 1615, Map of Rockingham 1615, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100477.

<3> Eagle J., 1806, Map of The Estates of The Right Honourable Lewis Richard, Lord Sondes at Rockingham, Cottingham, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100475.

Record last edited

May 21 2010 11:54AM