Monument record 5017/1 - The Portway or Port Road

A hollow-way which is aligned northwards for 200m from the west end of Back Lane, Hardingstone. First documented in c1200, but may be part of a much earlier route

{1} Old road leading to the east gate of Northampton crossing the River Nene at Nun Mills. The route is mentioned in a charter of circa 1200. Earthwork; a hollow way which runs for 200m from the west end of Back Lane in Hardingstone, it is up to 20m wide and 2m deep and forms the south end of the old road leading to the east gate of Northampton which crossed the River Nene at Nun Mills; SP765589.

{2} Documentary evidence; the route now followed by the hollow way is mentioned in the Charter of c. 1200.

{3} Roman lane called Portway; part of the old road at Hardingstone is called Port Road.

{4} "Portway" marked on map [Plate 16].

{5} Evidence of ancient roads termed portways; the lane in Hardingstone known as Portway is probably a continuation of the same in Salcey Forest. It probably passed to the east of Northampon on its way to Leicestershire. Portway is readily seen in hollow way turning north by new cottages near trees and at a short distance beyond the church.

{6} Lane marked on map.

{7} The Port Meadow was located by the Bedford Road and was crossed by the Portway/ Port Lane (a route from Hardingstone still in use today, referred to in the Town terrier of 1586).

{8} Quoted ngr for hollow way incorrect.

{9} Features on attached map; A+B+C+D may represent continuation of 172A as described by C.W.Green in Viatores 1964 as precursor of Watling Street on pre-Roman route; D is low bank 11-14m wide; more or less follows line of modern path; confused by modern service ducts.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.292/Site 29 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> 1200, Private Charters II, (unchecked) (Document). SNN54546.

<3> George T.J., 1904, An Archaeological Survey of Northamptonshire, p.7+15 (unchecked) Handwritten Note in NDC File R133; (Index). SNN10170.

<4> BOTFIELD B., 1853, Some Account of The Roman Villa and The Discoveries Made on The Borough Hill, p.383-95 (unchecked) (Article). SNN1850.

<5> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.3+138+map (part checked) (Book). SNN1032.

<6> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN1852.

<7> COUNCIL FOR INDEPENDENT ARCHAEOLOGY, 2007-8, Independent Archaeology Newsletter, p.20 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN106137.

<8> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, M320 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

<9> WELSH T.C., 1995, Features Possibly Indicating Continuation of Viatores 172A and Other Alignments, (unchecked) (Report). SNN2422.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:28PM