Monument record 4156/0/65 - Probable post-medieval house, The Cottons

Archaeological excavation found that the site had been extensively disturbed by a Victorian gasworks, although the remains of at least one substantial stone building were revealed. This would appear to have been erected in the 17th-18th centuries, a similar date to other buildings in the vicinity. The building, which was probably domestic in function, is not depicted on any surviving historic maps. Traces of two wells, and walls near the street frontage in the western part of the site were also revealed. Quarries were also identified in th northern part of the site.

{1} Archaeological excavation at The Cottons. Although the site was extensively by the construction of a gasworks in the Victorian period, some truncated archaeological features survived.

In the post medieval period activities included the construction of a building, probably domestic, which was erected on higher ground in the south. Prior to archaeological investigation, the existence of this building had been lost, as it was not depicted on the available historic maps of the area. This area was subsequently used as a farmyard with two stone barns being erected.
The alignment of this building, indicated by the northern face of the wall, diverges slightly from the alignment of the present property boundary, situated a short distance to the south. Proximity of the standing wall hampered further investigation of the earlier wall footings in the vicinity. It is probable that this building was similar in construction and date to the standing buildings to the south, lining Main Street. The alignment of the walls also contrasts slightly with the alignment of the adjacent ruined barn to the east, suggesting that they were not contemporary.

To the west of the building, close to Main Street, a well and associated L-shaped channel, were exposed. The well was circular with stone lining, although tree-roots had disturbed the uppermost stones. Post-medieval to modern debris was noted within the backfill for the upper part of the well, though it was not possible to recover this material.
A roughly L-shaped channel lined with ironstone blocks and capped with ironstone slabs extended from the northern side of the well, turning from the east, where it was truncated by the Victorian terracing. Levels indicate that this channel would have directed water into the well rather than acting as an overflow.
A possible construction cut for a further well was found to the north of the site. It was probably post-medieval in date, based on the nature of the infill of the majority of the shaft. It is possible that the form was similar to the above well, with a wider upper part of the well originally having been revetted with stone. When the well was abandonned, at least a component of this postulated stone lining may have been used to seal the feature.

The truncated remains of several surfaces were exposed at the margins of the extensive disturbance. In the south, two surfaces of contrasting form were separated by a roughly north-south alignment of large slabs. These were initially thought to be the capping for a drain, though further investigation indicated that the slabs were placed directly on the undisturbed clay. Whilst the slabs may have defined the footing for a wall with distinctive internal and external surfaces, the absence of a parallel wall makes such an interpretation speculative. To the south the surfaces merged into the material defining the present track. Dating evidence recovered from these deposits indicates an 18th- 19th century date, similar to that of the extensive disturbance which truncated the northern continuation.

Below the small pits, the northern part of the area contained evidence of extensive features including which had well-defined very steep edges with the undisturbed geological strata - this was investigated in small sections, indicating that the features extended at least 0.25m below the foundation level for this area. It is probable that originally identified as subsoil, was in fact an upper fill of the extensive quarries. A slope in the natural strata was detected close to the eastern limit of sexcavation, which is considered to be a continuation of the quarrying. The eastern continuation of this activity was detected in the earthwork survey as an interruption in the pattern of ridge and furrow cultivation within the paddock. The southern extent of quarrying was identified in the paddock, during monitoring of the stripping of the road corridor.

<1> Edmondson, G. and Ingham, D., 2003, Land off The Cottons Rockingham Northamptonshire: Archaeological Recording Action, P. 11 (Report). SNN103613.

<2> Edmondson G., 2010, Archaeological Investigation of Land Adjacent to The Cottons, Rockingham (Article). SNN107496.

Record last edited

Nov 19 2020 9:31AM