Monument record 3055/0/1 - Undated Enclosure

Possible prehistoric or Roman circular enclosure bounded by a low bank and outer ditch. It has been levelled by later activity and modern ploughing and is only visible on air photographs taken in 1947. The enclosure consisted of a circular area, 230 m. in diam. No definite entrances or interior features are visible. The markedly eastward bend in the modern road may be explained by the existence of this enclosure. An adjacent, and possibly contemporary, enclosure has been radiocarbon dated to 980 AD +/- 60. Alternatively, Harringworth Park had two sheepfolds in the 13th century and this may be one of them.

{1} A mound of unknown origin occurs in this field.
[SMR note 06/09/2007: not sure whether this reference to a mound alludes to the former earthwork of the enclosure.]

{2} SP 9388 9493: Enclosure 300 metres north west of SP 99 SW 6 on the north side of the valley, on Boulder Clay at just over 300 feet above OD. It has been totally destroyed by later activity and modern ploughing and is only just visible on air photographs taken in 1947. It then consisted of a circular area, 230 metres in diametres bounded by a low bank and outer ditch. No definite entrances or interior features are visible. The markedly eastward bend in the modern road may be explained by the existence of this enclosure. There is no evidence for its date or purpose but it is probably contemporary with SP 99 SW 6 [HER 3045/0/1] Plan: fig.64.

{3} NCCAP:SP9394/001-3.

{4} This enclosure lies some 300m to the north-west of another circular enclosure which was radiocarbon dated to c980 AD.

{5} Two large sheepfolds were said to lie in Harringworth Park in 1273. This may be one of the two enclosure.

<1> Jackson D., 1970, Fieldwork and Excavation in North Eastern Northamptonshire, p.41 (checked) (Article). SNN4821.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.49/Site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<3> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<4> Jackson, D., 1980, An Earthwork at Harringworth, Northants, p. 158-60 (Article). SNN64250.

<5> HALL D.N., 1995, The Open Fields of Northamptonshire, p. 15 (Series). SNN56219.

<6> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, A/P (RAF VAP CPE/UK/1925 1139-41) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<7> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire I (North-East), 890493 (Archive). SNN113295.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 6:18PM