Monument record 3727/0/7 - Late Bronze Age/early Iron Age pit alignments and lazy bed system/possible vineyard, Grendon Quarry

A complex of cropmarks at Grendon, some of which were recorded on the ground in advance of gravel extraction in the late 1970s. Salvage excavation was undertaken between 1976-80. In the north-eastern corner of the site three pit alignments converged; one of the alignments was a double line of pits. Two of the alignments were traced further to the west by aerial photography. A trench system covering an area of circa 4000 square metres was suggested to have represented lazy-bed cultivation, although the final report suggested that the trenches may have been dug to grow grape-vines. The sole dating evidence was an Iron Age sherd from one of the trenches, and a Roman sherd from a ditch that was clearly later than them. While this is rather minimal evidence, nonetheless a pre-Medieval origin has been suggested.Three small features may have been of an early date; one contained two fragments of flint-tempered pottery, possibly Neolithic and several flint flakes and another a decayed antler pick. A nearby deposit of black loam seems to have developed in the early prehistoric period.

{1} Gravel quarrying revealed a series of pit alignments and an unusual trench system. The latter consisted of 27 parallel trenches, between 800mm and 1m wide and up to 1m deep and between 3 and 3.5m apart. The longest surviving trench was 49m long, the function of these features is unclear but bears a resemblance to lazy bed cultivation.

{2} Three small features truncated by the lazy bed trenches may have been of an early date; one contained two fragments of flint-tempered pottery, possibly Neolithic and several flint flakes and another a decayed antler pick. A nearby deposit of black loam seems to have developed in the early prehistoric period.
Three pit alignments converged near the junction of three fields. Since the upper deposits of sand and gravel in this area were of no commercial use and were scraped away during overburden clearance, the pits or lines of pits were seen but few could be plotted individually or in detail. At the intersection between two of the alignments, the pits did not overlap and in one the spacing of pits was inconsistent. This may suggest one was constructed earlier or that there was an entrance-way between fields at the intersection.
A series of 27 parallel trenches extended over an area of 4,000sq m. The only dating evidence was a sherd of Iron Age pottery from one of the trenches and a sherd of Roman pottery from a ditch overlying them. Possible part of a lazy bed system of agriculture, but probably more likely to have been dug to grow grapes. Three small features may have been of an early date; one contained two fragments of flint-tempered pottery, possibly Neolithic and several flint flakes and another a decayed antler pick. A nearby deposit of black loam seems to have developed in the early prehistoric period.

{3} Salvage excavation by D.Jackson, 1980. Parallel linear trenches [ditches?]; post date a pit alignment.

{6} Alignment of pits; (cropmarks), double ditched enclosure at SP 881621 in parish of Grendon.
(Nothing visible on available APs (RAF 1947).

{7} Ring ditches, enclosures and pit alignments centred SP 879622) cover an area of some 22 hectares W of the Old Lodge, on the N edge of the parish on gravel at 42 m. above OD. Air photographs (in NMR)
show a complex pattern of cropmarks. To the E is a rectangular enclosure, covering about 1 hectare and intersected by other ditches and two pit alignments the southernmost of which runs SE for 320 m.
(SP 8806230-88236209). The two alignments are themselves crossed at right-angles by a third, traceable for 140 m. immediately E of and parallel with the E side of the enclosure. A ring ditch at SP 88136223 is crossed by another short length of pits and ditches. There are also ditches, enclosures and pit alignments, centred SP 878620 and elsewhere in the surrounding area. Iron Age pottery has been found in the area.

{8} Pit alignment not visible on Hollowell photo. Nothing of interest seen on the ground.

{9} (SP 882621). Gravel quarrying revealed more pit alignments and unusual trench system, the later consisted 27 parallel trenches. Their function is unknown but were possibly associated with lazy bed cultivation. No dating evidence was available but it is likely to be pre-medieval.

{11} Interpreted as Roman cultivation trenches (or planting trenches).

<1> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1981, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1980, p.207 Grendon (checked) (Article). SNN100418.

<2> Jackson D.A., 1995, Archaeology at Grendon Quarry, Northamptonshire: Part 2, Other Prehistoric, Iron Age and Later Sites Excavated in 1974-5, and Further Observations Between 1976-80, p. 5 & 9-11 (Report). SNN70994.

<3> FOARD G.R., 1980, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN51134.

<4> JACKSON D., 1980?, Preliminary Excavation Plan, (unchecked) (Plan). SNN52250.

<5> SHAW M., 1981, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (11), p. 23-6 (Interim Note). SNN4269.

<6> Hall D.N., 1966, Sites on the North Bedfordshire and South Northamptonshire border, p. 5 (Article). SNN37934.

<7> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 54-5/Site 7 (Series). SNN77380.

<8> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 25-SEP-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<9> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1981, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1980, p. 207 (Article). SNN100418.

<10> Aerial Photograph, A/P (CUAP, ZE 52-9, ZJ 73-4, AVD 43, BCJ 72-3) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<11> Wiseman, R, Brewer, E, Luxford, R, Losh, J, Roberts, M, Jackson-Slater, C, & Boulton, A, 2020, Archaeology on Furlough: Roman Planting Trenches in the East of England, p. 8 (Report). SNN116499.

Record last edited

Jul 23 2024 1:25PM