Monument record 3676/0/20 - Probable late medieval/early post-medieval dovecote

Cropmark of a circular building identified on aerial photographs. Archaeological evaluation identified a circular stone foundation and demolition spread likely to be the remains of a dovecote.

{1} A low mound, only 1m high and rather irregular and disturbed by later digging, is the site of a dovecot which is shown on the map in approximately this position.

{3} The field was known as Dovehouse Close in 1598.

{4} Archaeological evaluation identified a curved wall made of roughly faced, unbonded limestone blocks somewhat south of the low mound described by {1}, but which corresponded to the circular cropmark identified during the Northants NMP project. The low mound at SP8294 7680 was not observed during the evaluation. It was associated with a large semi-circular spread of limestone rubble. A single sherd of 12th century pottery was recovered from the demolition spread, but was unlikely to be contextually secure.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.29/Site 8 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<3> Treswell R., 1598, Cransley Parish Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN103920.

<4> McLeish, A & Early, J, 2023, An Archaeological Evaluation for Land at Church Lane, Great Cransley, Kettering, Northamptonshire, https://doi.org/10.5284/1120199 (Report). SNN115351.

Record last edited

Jul 23 2024 4:23PM