Monument record 1301/21 - Anglo-Scandinavian Farm, Raunds Furnells

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Summary

Part of the wider Raunds Furnells excavation. The Anglo-Scandinavian farm was established in the mid-9th century and comprised two principal elements: a large post-built timber hall to the north and a ditched enclosure containing a smaller hall. There were further ancillary buildings outside the enclosure. A Scandinavian influence is evident in some of the recovered finds including horse gear and gaming pieces.

Map

Type and Period (9)

Full Description

{2} The characterisation of this settlement as an Anglo-Scandinavian farm follows from the dating of this activity to the period of Danish control of the region, and to the presence of various finds, including an assemblage of horse harness fittings and some gaming pieces which exhibit Scandinavian influence.

Building B was a major timber hall. It was an imposing structure and would have been a dwelling house. The structure appears to have been substantially repaired or rebuilt. It is possible that the construction method, the evidence suggests a dwelling and byre. The building was 12m long x 6m wide, orientated east-west. Eight regularly spaced sets of double postholes form the north and south sides. The siting of the hearth and the partition subdivide the structure into three areas.
To the south was a ditched enclosure, 35m x 35m, containing a single post-built hall, S, aligned north to south. A further, smaller timber hall, D, lay to the west, at a slightly oblique angle to the other structures, and a further structure, C, appeared to closely abut the north-western corner of the ditched enclosure. Between the northern buildings and the enclosure there was an open yard with access from the east. At a later date access was blocked by further major timber hall (Building A, SP70) to the east of Building B, was of a different build as it was founded in construction trenches. It was certainly of a later date, and may have been either a late addition to the Anglo-Scandinavian farm, or was constructed as part of the late Saxon manor complex. There is insufficient dating evidence to determine which.

{2, 4, 5} Subsequent to the initial early-middle Saxon settlement [HER no 1301/0/182], at around 850-950AD the site was used as a farmstead, possibly with Scandinavian influence although this is difficult to state with any certainty. At this time the area is known to have been under Danish control and finds of stirrups at the site and a C11coin of Olaf of Norway on a nearby excavation have suggested the Anglo-Scandinavian link but these are far from solid indications. The remains comprise a major post-built timber hall to the north with a single post-built hall with a smaller hall to the south within a ditched enclosure. A further small timber hall lay to the west and another was either abutting or cut by the ditched enclosure. One further major timber building of a slightly later date was found on the north east edge outside the ditched enclosure. The later building was within ditched foundations rather than post-holes and could either relate to the last phase of the Anglo-Scandinavian farmstead or be the earliest phase of the late Saxon manor.


<1> Cadman G., 1982, Raunds: Excavations 1981/2, an Interim Note, p.95 (checked) (Article). SNN104574.

<2> Audouy M.; Chapman A., 2009, Raunds, The Origin and Growth of A Midland Village, AD 450-1500 (Excavations in North Raunds 1997-87), p.31-32 & 66-74 (part checked) (Report). SNN106414.

<3> BODDINGTON A.; CADMAN G., 1981, Raunds: an interim report on excavations 1977-80 (Article). SNN75983.

<4> BODDINGTON A.; ET AL, 1996, Raunds Furnells: The Anglo-Saxon church and churchyard, 7 (Report). SNN69684.

<5> Stocker, D, 2006, England's Landscapes: The East Midlands, p. 221-2 (Book). SNN116286.

Sources/Archives (5)

  • <1> Article: Cadman G.. 1982. Raunds: Excavations 1981/2, an Interim Note. Northamptonshire Archaeology. 17. Northants Archaeology Soc. p.95 (checked).
  • <2> Report: Audouy M.; Chapman A.. 2009. Raunds, The Origin and Growth of A Midland Village, AD 450-1500 (Excavations in North Raunds 1997-87). Oxbow Books. p.31-32 & 66-74 (part checked).
  • <3> Article: BODDINGTON A.; CADMAN G.. 1981. Raunds: an interim report on excavations 1977-80. BAR. 92.
  • <4> Report: BODDINGTON A.; ET AL. 1996. Raunds Furnells: The Anglo-Saxon church and churchyard. English Heritage Archaeological Reports. 7. ENGLISH HERITAGE. 7.
  • <5> Book: Stocker, D. 2006. England's Landscapes: The East Midlands. p. 221-2.

Finds (10)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Location

Grid reference Centred SP 99858 73315 (72m by 82m) Approximate
Civil Parish RAUNDS, North Northamptonshire (formerly East Northants District)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Other Statuses/References

  • NRHE HOB UID: 1490106

Record last edited

Aug 6 2024 12:03PM

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