Monument record 632/0/1 - Medieval/Post Medieval Enclosure (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation)

Earthwork: Non-destructive fieldwork

{1} SP 5855 6125 Burnt Walls.

{2} A roughly triangular enclosure bounded on the south west by a bank 2m high, with an external ditch 2m deep and a low counterscarp bank beyond. There is a causeway across the ditch near the south end which may be an original entrance. At the south corner the ditch and counterscarp bank disappear and the main bank turns north east to follow the edge of the tributary stream. The bank here is between 1m and 2m high but badly mutilated and only a low scarp above the stream now remains along the north side and north east corner. At this latter place there is a modern entrance gap.

{3} Small defensive earthwork in a weak position; plan.

{4} The trench on the west is well defined; the south side of the camp shows signs of extensive excavation; photo; plan.

{5} Remains of ramparts; broken on the north side by ridge and furrow and on the south side they are mutilated by exstensive quarrying; a causeway across the west ditch probably marks the original entrance; a fortified enclosure of either an Iron Age promontory type or of medieval origin; the medieval origin is suggested by the straight western ditch and water engineering, by the lowland situation and the good state of preservation; in form it is similar to Wesley Castle at SP 02158275 which was dated by excavation to the 12th century and later with possible pre-conquest occupation; plan.

{6} Scheduled Ancient Monument.

{11} Features recorded in 1993 by NAU Contracts Section. A walkover of the site of the proposed development was conducted. The early medieval enclosure of Burnt Walls, part of the Saxon bounds of Newnham have been preserved by these later features. The earthwork is sited on a low ridge at the confluence of two small strams overlooked by higher ground on all sides apart from the east. The main defence is a deep ditch with two flanking ramparts placed across the ridge and linking the streams producing a roughly triangular enclosure. The slopes along the streams have been scarped.

{12} There is a possibility that Burnt Walls was originally a 'burh' or 'stodfald', which then evolved into a early Norman motte; the layers of flaggy limestone packed with earth are characteristic of early Norman motte construction techniques.

{14} NCC Aerial Photogrpah No:SP5861/001-8.

<1> 1928, OS 6 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN15432.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.71 site 35 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<3> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.399 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<4> Edgar W., 1923, Borough Hill & Its History, p.48-49 (unchecked) (Book). SNN47010.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP56SE2 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<6> 1961, H.M.S.O. List, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN8489.

<7> GOUGH, 1806?, ADD. TO CAMDEN II, 2/275 (unchecked) (Document). SNN38932.

<8> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.42 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<9> Doubleday H A (ed), 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.195-96 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<10> STEADMAN S., 1991, Archaeological Evaluation at Burnt Walls, Daventry, (unchecked) (Report). SNN57051.

<11> 1993, Archaeological Evaluation at Burnt Walls, Daventry: Stage 1, (unchecked) (Report). SNN43423.

<12> Welsh T.C., 2001, Burnt Walls, Daventry, Northamptonshire SP585612: Analytical Interpretation Of Earthworks, (unchecked) (Report). SNN101250.

<13> Welsh T.C., 2001, SMR Report Form, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN101249.

<14> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Photographs). SNN104822.

Record last edited

Sep 20 2021 3:43PM