Monument record 34/0/8 - Late Saxon/ medieval hollow way (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation) checked

Earthwork: Non-destructive fieldwork

{2} A broad irregular hollow way extending east-west parallel to Townsend Lane and forming a link between London End and the hollowed footpath north of Frog Lane.

{3} All the earthworks were already abandoned by the mid 19th century.

{4} The possible holloway has been clearly defined by both techniques but the presence of a highly magnetic surface suggests either that it is of no great antiquity or that it has been infilled, possibly to improve drainage, relatively recently.

{5}It was revealed that the feature was the infilled remains of a hollow way. The finds suggest that it dated from as early as as the Saxo-Norman period but was used through into other periods. The fill contained mixed silty clay, pockets of yellow clay and occasional inclusions of charcoal amd brick which probably caused the high magnetic readings. Despite its deep sides, it is likely that the hollow way was formed by the repeated used of this strip of land for movement. However, given that only 40m separates the hollow way from Townsend Land the nature of their association is uncertain.

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

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.21 site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<3> 1868?, Map of Upper Boddington, (unchecked) (Map). SNN10908.

<4> Bonsall J., 2002, Land Off Townsend Lane, Upper Boddington, Northamptonshire, Geophysical Survey, (checked) (Report). SNN102225.

<5> Phillips M.; Watters J.; Wells J., 2002, Land Off Townsend Lane, Upper Boddington, Northamptonshire, Archaeological Field Evaluation, (checked) (Report). SNN102224.

<6> CBA South Midlands Group, 2003, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter, 33/37 (checked) (Journal). SNN103380.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2013 4:12PM