Monument record 4631/0/1 - Probable settlement activity, south of Hardingstone Lodge

Air photographs show enclosure and ditch. Geophysical survey undertaken in 2024/25 found evidence for enclosures, pits, and ditches.

{1} Enclosure (?)(SP 786571) in the extreme N of the parish, on Upper Lias clay at 107 m. above OD. Air photographs (in NMR) show what appears to be part of a rectangular enclosure with a well-marked entrance in the centre of the W side. A linear ditch intersects it.

{2} NCCAP:SP7857/006.

{4} (SP 786571). Cropmark, a faint ditch recorded on AP in 1979.

{5} Geophysical survey was undertaken in this area. In the north of Area 1, a group of anomalies have been recorded which comprised of ditches, pits, trends and a zone of increased response. Some of the anomalies form a large rectangular enclosure measuring approximately 90m by 50m, a break in the western ditch likely marks an entrance. This corresponds with the cropmarks. Numerous ditches within the enclosure mark internal subdivisions or smaller enclosures. A series of magnetically weak trends appear to extend eastwards beyond the enclosure and may form smaller rectangular plots. Due west of the large enclosure are numerous other anomalies, some of which form additional smaller enclosures. This group of anomalies appears to extend northwards beyond the limits of the survey. Magnetically weak trends of possible interest have also been detected extending southwards to a second group of anomalies.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.62/Site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

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

<3> CHADWICK P.; STEPHENSON A., 1999, Archaeological Desk Based Assessment: Land North of Brackley, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN63160.

<4> Cowley, D E and Foard, G R, eds, 1980, Aerial photography in Northamptonshire 1979, p. 177 (Article). SNN112709.

<5> Thomas Cockcroft, 2025, GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY REPORT: ‘Hardingstone Rise’, Land North of Newport Pagnell Road, Northampton (Report). SNN117107.

Record last edited

Jun 15 2026 3:45PM