Monument record 1355/0/1 - Late Bronze Age/early Iron Age Pit Alignment, south of Irthlingborough Grange

Pit alignment identified as cropmarks on aerial photographs and by geophysical survey in 2018. The geophysical survey results suggest that pits give way to a boundary ditch to the east. Excavation of 39 pits was undertaken in 2024. Few finds were recovered, as is usual with pit alignments. The pit alignment was redefined by boundary ditches in the middle to late Iron Age.

{1} Pit alignment. NCCAP:SP9167/006-14.

{2} Geophysical survey was undertaken in 2018 to the south of Irthlingboough Grange. At least 45 pits could be discerned in the main line, with a few outliers to either side. In the field to the east, the pit anomalies give way to a continuous ditch;

{3} Excavation of Area 19 Stanton Cross undertaken in 2024 incorporated the pit alignment. A total of 39 pits was excavated. At the eastern end the pit alignment stopped 93m away from the northwestern tip of a natural channel which may have formed a natural boundary during this period. The pits were substantial and were generally sub-oval or sub-circular in plan, although many of them were square at the base. The fills were defined by primary erosion and disuse fills. Finds were rare and included three pieces of flint and small amount of probable Iron Age pottery. A shallow ditch replaced the pit alignment in the middle to late Iron Age. It extended further eastwards where it becmae larger.

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

<2> Arkley, G. and Walford, J., 2018, Archaeological geophysical survey at Stanton Cross, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, October to November 2018, p. 5 (Report). SNN111534.

<3> Simmonds, C, 2026, Updated Project Design and Post-Excavation Assessment for archaeological trial trenching and mitigation at Area 19, Stanton Cross SUE, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, May to December 2024 (Report). SNN117210.

Record last edited

Sep 9 2026 2:54PM