Monument record 9194 - Early-middle Saxon settlement, west of Polebrook

Archaeological investigations by the Middle Nene Archaeology Group identified an early-middle Saxon settlement comprising a number of substantial buildings set within regular, fenced compounds perhaps indicating a planned layout. Dating evidence from the site was sparce but perhaps spanned the late 5th- early 8th centuries

{1} The earliest features on site were a series post holes running in two parallel lines east-west, with two other post-holes forming the eastern side of a post built structure. Other posts along each wall had been removed by having later features cut into them. The structure was 3.0m wide at its eastern end, slightly broader (3.2m) at its western end and had a long axis of 6m within the excavation trench. There was no indication of any flooring, but one post was cut at the same level as the northern wall posts and may have been an internal feature of some kind related perhaps to benching along the northern wall. Alternatively this post could have also acted as an internal roof support or have formed part of an internal division of the structure. The post built structure of period 1 would fit well within the date range of the 5th -8th centuries. The lack of pottery and other reliable dating evidence makes it difficult to date the structure any more accurately.

The post built structure of Period 1 was replaced by a large hall-like structure that was 6.80m wide internally and approximately 11.50m long based on the calculations made from the air photographs, of which 4.0m was excavated. The walls were constructed of wooden posts set at 75cm centre intervals (approx) along the outside edge of a very wide bedding trench. At the north-east and south-east corners of the hall and 60cm outside of the outer edge of the bedding trench were two post holes that could well have been buttress supports for the gable end of the structure.
Within the hall there was no indication of any flooring arrangement or of how the roof was covered, but thatch would perhaps have been likely. It is possible that the walls would have been of wattle and daub in-filling between the upright posts as fragments of burnt daub were found in several places on site.

At some later period, but while the hall was still standing, an annex was added to the east end of the hall. The walls of this structure were of a similar construction to that of the hall although the bedding trenches were narrower and had the posts set along the centre of the trench and not against the outside wall, as in the hall.
Where the annex joined onto the short axis of the hall two extra posts were set partly over the former period 2 bedding trench. These two posts could well have acted as roof supports for the annex roof as it butted up against the hall and coul have taken purlins to support the rafters; the eastern end of the purlins resting on the east gable wall of the annex.
The north-eastern and south-eastern corners of the annex appear, like the main hall, to have had buttresses which are marked by some surviving post holes. The walls of this annex, like the hall, were probably of wattle and daub set within the framework of the upright post. The roof was presumably also of thatch and there was again, like the hall, no evidence of any floors.

Located 10m to the south and parallel to the hall and annex was a substantial fence line, that could have formed the southern boundary to a compound in which the hall and annex or the earlier post built structure was set. The line of this fence is clearly seen on the air photographs and picked up on geophysical survey. Although not linked the main hall or earlier post built structure, the orientation of the fence and the buildings suggest that they were laid out during either period 1 or 2 of the sites history.

A series of nine features were shown on the air photographic and geophysical surveys that all looked to be either pits, wells or sunken floored buildings. One of these features was excavated during July 2002 and proved to be a pit.

The arrangement of buildings seen on the pre-excavation surveys and the information from the excavation itself present a picture of substantial buildings set within fenced compounds with a regular and planned layout. It is possible that thais planned system extends to trackways and a field system partially seen on air photographs to the north of the site. The overall layout, the size and architecture of the buildings all indicate a site of some status. The functions of such sites are presumably as estate centres.

{2} 'Intensive fieldwork at Polebrook Northamptonshire including air photography, geophysical work and field-walking by the Middle Nene Archaeological Group was followed by five seasons of excavation. The excavation was targeted at a series of Saxon buildings set in a formal layout and associated with pits, wells, fence lines and a granary. Some large buildings (up to 16m long and 6 m wide) were post built where the posts were set in a continuous bedding trench. Other smaller buildings simply had posts set in individual post holes. The date range registered by C14 dating was between the late 5th century and the early 8th century with the main focus being around the middle of the 7th century at a time when the monastic site under Wilfred was being established at Oundle. The finds from the site were limited with little pottery and beads and comb fragments but the size of the structures suggests that the site was of some importance.'

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<1> CBA South Midlands Group, 2003, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (33), p. 41-45 (Journal). SNN103380.

<2> General reference for websites, https://www.nenevalleyarchaeology.co.uk/polebook; Accessed 08/09/2026 (Website). SNN116607.

Record last edited

Sep 8 2026 3:39PM