Monument record 3124/1 - Site of medieval manor house, Irchester

Site of a manor house erected in the 13th century. Earthworks of the manor house and associated features were visible on historical aerial photographs. Extensive manorial remains were recorded in 1967 during development of the site for housing.

{1} The site of an ancient Manor House, which was erected in the 14th century. Situate 4 chains NE of London End.

{2} Manor House at SP9281 6564

{3} SP929656. In June 1967, extensive levelling of Manor Field for building work uncovered a wide range of occupation material. Jar rims in St. Neots ware, carinated bowl in shelly reduced fabric, glazed Stamford ware, wide range of 13th century shell wares, and Lyveden type wares were seen.

{4} SP927656. Saxon remains on the site of the manor house were covered by later manorial buildings and an extensive limestone yard. Several other isolated rectangular buildings were found. The kitchen area had a well-preserved oven floor, which had been repaired several times. From a preliminary analysis of the pottery, the manor appears to have been built in the 13th century and to have lasted until the 15th century.

{6} SP 928656. The area was once covered by low earthworks which were completely destroyed by building development in 1967. During the development excavations took place and a large number of features and finds were discovered.These included the walls of a number of buildings, cobbled yards, pits, ditches and post holes, Saxon and medieval pottery of St. Neots, Stamford and Lyveden types, an iron working site, roof tiles, horse shoes, iron arrowheads, a bone handled knife and lead glazing bars. A silver penny of William, Count of Namur (1337-91), was also discovered.

{8} Two test pits excavated at the rear of 1A London Road identified the remains of a probable medieval midden and a possible building foundation [subsequently identified as a medieval causeway 3124/1/1], although the size of the test pits precluded detailed interpretation. The midden depoist was dated to the 13th century and yielded an extensive range of plant macrofossils and carbonised cereal. A single sherd of late medieval pottery was found overlying the probable wall foundation.

{9} The remains of the Manor House were visible as earthworks on historical aerial photographs and was mapped as part of the Bedford Borough NMP project. The earthworks comprise, boundary banks forming enclosures, scarps, a possible circular feature as well as possible later quarrying. The whole area has now been demolished under residential housing.

{16} The earthworks published about this site have all been levelled and the entire area is covered by a new housing estate. Saxon and Md finds recorded nearby (SP 96 NU 11) are probably associated.

{19} The finds noted in {3} are probably associated with the Manor site nearby, (SP 96 NW 9). Area now built over; finds in Northampton museum awaiting complete examination.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP96NW9 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1959, OS 6 inch map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN64977.

<3> Brown A.E. (Ed.), 1967, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1966/67 (Medieval), 2/25 (checked) (Article). SNN26725.

<4> 1969, Medieval Archaeology (13), 13/273 (checked) (Journal). SNN38357.

<5> 1967, NEWSPAPER ARTICLE 1967, (unchecked) (Article). SNN57435.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.97/Site 11 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<7> Kerr, W.J.B., 1922, Higham Ferrers and Its Ducal and Royal Castle and Park Part 2, (unchecked) (Book). SNN108294.

<8> Wilson, M, 2020, 1A London End, Irchester: Archaeological Evaluation Report (Report). SNN112068.

<9> Undated, Inf P Foster (Oral Report). SNN112711.

<10> Oblique Aerial Photograph, CUCAP ARP83 12-JUN-1967 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

<11> Vertical Aerial Photograph, RAF/541/611 RS 4033-4 11-OCT-1950 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<12> Vertical Aerial Photograph, US/7PH/GP/LOC137 1001 02-JUN-1944 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<13> Vertical Aerial Photograph, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SP9265 16-APR-2015 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<14> Brown , G, 1960s, Irchester medieval manor site (Notes). SNN112735.

<15> Crank, N. (Editor), 2021, South Midlands Archaeology (51), p. 65-6 (Journal). SNN113326.

<16> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 7-JUL-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<17> Bedford Borough Council HER, Undated, Bedford Borough NMP (Archive). SNN113023.

<18> Mrs G Brown, 1967, Excavations and Fieldwork, 1966-67 (Note). SNN115491.

<19> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 07-JUL-1970 (Notes). SNN111541.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:23PM