Monument record 368/7 - Catesby Market

{1} Mid 13th century attempted ‘new town’ foundation at the gates of nunnery. It still functioned in 1275-6 and probably continued into the 14th century, perhaps as late as the 1320s. The history of the settlement is discussed in detail by Laughton. The market had however almost certainly gone by 1330. It had a market place with shops, pillory and almshouse. There is extensive earthwork survival of monastery and of the settlement. The plan form is not fully understood and the market place has not been identified. However this is probably the best documented of the county’s market villages which functioned in the medieval period but failed in the 14th century, and would appear to have by far the highest archaeological potential of any such site in Northamptonshire.

{3}The Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey records that in the mid C12, a ‘market village’ was planted at
the gates of the Priory, probably located on land to the north of Catesby Road. In 1246 prioress Margaret was
granted a weekly market at Catesby; this settlement became known as ‘Shopes’ and continued to be known
as such for several centuries before it acquired the name Lower Catesby. The market village still functioned
in 1275-6 and probably continued until the 1440s, although the market had ceased by that time and the
village was in decline. Documents describe cottages as standing on the south side at the end of the vill, next
to the road to Hellidon and Pillory Lane. Documents state that there was a market place with shops, a pillory,
communal bakehouse, almshouses, well, fish pond and weir, and a tannery; it is said to be the best
documented of Northamptonshire’s medieval market villages.

<1> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Overview, Appendix 2 (checked) (Report). SNN103118.

<2> Laughton J., 2001, Catesby in The Middle Ages: an Interdisciplinary Study, p.7-32 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102519.

<3> Historic England, 2015, Designation Assessment: Medieval settlement at Lower Catesby, p. 9 (Designation Advice Report). SNN110113.

Record last edited

Sep 14 2015 12:10PM