Monument record 2026/1/1 - Prehistoric Round Barrow (Barrow 1), North Lodge

Cropmarks of a barrow had been identified. Limited excavation was was undertaken in 1969 since surface finds suggested a Bronze Age cemetery was in danger of being destroyed by the plough. The barrow had already been truncated and no burials were identified.

{2} A double ring ditch, set within a quadrilateral ditched enclosure.

{3} Barrow ditch: broad and flat bottomed, with an average depth of 4ft 3in. There was the suggestion of a berm between the ditch and the barrow mound. Evidence of occupation in the ditch (when it was half silted up) was found: a number of vertical stones used as packing for posts, a possible hearth, and several small pits. Pottery and a round headed pin found suggest that this activity was early Iron Age. Unstratified late Bronze Age/ early Iron Age pottery was also found, and the upper fill of the ditch contained Roman pottery.

A small hearth was found inside the barrow ditch, and there were indications that the barrow was originally capped by material dug from the ditch. There appeared to be an inner ditch visible on aerial photos but this was found to be a continuous row of holes filled with clean subsoil.

Primary cremations central to ring ditch
SP82276517

<1> Northamptonshire HER Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<2> HOLLOWELL R., 1971, Aerial Photography and Fieldwork in the Upper Nene Valley, 6/9 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN106546.

<3> Jackson D.A., 1973, Excavations at North Lodge Near Ecton, Northamptonshire, 1969, 8/31-38 (unchecked) (Article). SNN76287.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP86NW13 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.49 site 6 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77380.

Record last edited

Jan 27 2026 4:15PM