Monument record 1842/2 - Thrapston Castle (De Veer Castle & Manor)

Possible medieval motte. Until its almost total destruction by recent building, there appears to have been a large artificial mound surrounded by a ditch. There were some indications of a stone structure, associated with medieval pottery, either within or on top of the mound

{2} The de Veer manor, though probably leased out for much of the medieval and post medieval period, had a capital messuage in Thrapston. The castle may have been constructed by the lords of the honour of Bourne themselves in the late 11th or earlier 12th century, the de Veer family only acquiring it in the second half of the 12th century. The castle was probably constructed on or close to the site of the late Saxon manor and it will have served as the capital messuage in the early medieval period. The motte, although severely mutilated by modern, Victorian and earlier building, still survives to a height of about 2 metres. The 18th century map depicts a curving linear pond arcing around the north side of the manor site which might represent the remnants of a bailey ditch, with the moat perhaps being fed from a spring in Spring Close.
The curving boundary on the south side of the manor may also preserve the line of a defensive ditch. The absence of any reference to ramparts in this area could be explained by the continued use of the site by the manor into recent times, involving the levelling of any earthworks.
The demise of the castle may have been related in some way to the granting out of the manor to the de Veer family in the first half of the 13th century. After the castle ceased to serve defensive functions the capital messuage seems to have persisted in what may have been the eastern bailey, it is certainly here that the main manor was to be found by the early 18th century.
Extensive buildings existed on the manor site in 1782 but by 1849 large portions of the manor house had been taken down and by the 1880s it was a much more modest property. The site was comprehensively redeveloped in the 1960s.
For further details see main report.

{5} During the digging of foundation and drain trenches for an old peoples home in 1966, it was noted that a drain trench had cut through a row of at least six skeletons, leaving heads on one side and legs on the other. A number of ditches have also been revealed, some of which are probably Romano-British [HER no 1847/1]. A larger ditch running through the site could possibly be a moat.

{6} The construction of an old people's home in Chancery Lane exposed a large ditch or moat. A rim and base (probably from the same pot) of Middle Saxon Ipswich Ware was found in the contractor's spoil heap and seems likely to have come from the ditch.

{7} In 1973 a third bungalow was built on an unrecorded artifical mound situated on the west side of Chancery Lane. A 10ft square manhole shaft was excavated through the mound. The exposed sections showed that the mound (still standing over 2ft high) covered stone structures of at least two periods. The structures pre-date a 13th century pit found cutting into the top of the mound. A bungalow was also built in 1973 which involved cutting into the side of the mound. This work was watched and stone walls were again exposed, but it was not possible to date them. A small amout of Roman pottery was found sealed beneath the mound.

{8} Incorrectly located by RCHM; SP99607880; still survives under houses;

{9} At Thrapston there is a low motte-like platform raised only a few feet above the surrounding level. It has been much mutilated over the centuries and has several houses cutting into it. A section revealed by a sewage trench a few years ago suggested the platform was more complex than expected.
A short distance in from the mound edge the strata began to tip downwards again. The structure would therefore appear to be a ringwork subsequently built up in the interior at a later period, similar to Sulgrave. Pieces of pre-Conquest St. Neots wares were recovered. (Includes illustration of section through mound).

{10} A number of burials were disturbed during development. Not investigated, but not aligned east-west and some possibly buried in charcoal. A scatter of later Roman pottery was also found on site. Two sherds of Ipswich ware were found, the fabric and form are characteristic of vessels made in the kilns at Cox Lane and Carr Street.

{11} Foundations of buildings have been found in Paradise Close and to the north of the church are two mounts, where a castle is supposed to have stood. [Paradise Close is now Castle Playing Fields to the west?].

{12} Occupation site (SP 99647875) NW of the church. Until its almost total destruction by recent building, there appears to have been a large artificial mound surrounded by a ditch. There were some indications of a stone structure, associated with medieval pottery, either within or on top of the mound.

<1> 1781 (circa), Thrapston Inclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100461.

<2> Foard G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Thrapston (Medieval + Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100460.

<3> Lanning K.; Pearson V.; Walker D., 1995, Castles in Northamptonshire: A Resource Pack for Teachers, (unchecked) (Educational Resource Pack). SNN75536.

<4> Kenyon J.R., 2008, Castles, Town Defences and Artillery Fortifications in the United Kingdom and Ireland: A Bibliography 1945 - 2006, (unchecked) (Bibliography). SNN106309.

<5> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1966, Bulletin of the Northamptonshire Federation of Archaeological Societies (Medieval), p.12 (checked) (Article). SNN19313.

<6> Jackson D., 1970, Fieldwork and Excavation in North Eastern Northamptonshire, p.42 (unchecked) (Article). SNN4821.

<7> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, 10/175 (Report). SNN41605.

<8> FOARD G.R., 1979, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Note). SNN51376.

<9> HALL D.N., 1978, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (8), 8/18+19 (Newsletter). SNN60830.

<10> Jackson, D., 1977, Ipswich Ware From Thrapston, 12/190-1 (Article). SNN63603.

<11> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, Vol II/p. 379 (Book). SNN100366.

<12> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.96/Site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:19PM