Monument record 4341/0/15 - Possible Medieval/Post Medieval Tofts (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation)

Earthwork: Non-destructive fieldwork

{3} A second area of earthworks lies east and north of Hall Farm. These appear to be the mutilated remains of former houses and closes lying along the existing Harborough Road.

{4} On the large platforms immediately east of the road we discovered very large pieces of limestone displaced by the trench digging operations and very fine limestone foundations in which post hole bases had been inserted; these foundations were superimposed on burnt earth and stone. Large unworn pottery of the 14th and 15th centuries included some imported pieces and well-shaped collyweston type roof tile. The lower levels yielded early medieval sherds, but these were very fragments and surrounded by a very great deal of burning.

{7} Immediately N of [M19] a series of positive linear magnetic anomalies [centred on M20] form a regular grid-like pattern of rectangular ditched enclosures. Narrow weak positive anomalies in several of the enclosures may indicate the in-filled foundation trenches of large timber buildings such as barns. Just N of these a double (possibly triple) alignment of linear positive magnetic anomalies has been recorded running E-W along the side of the hill-slope at [M23]. This most probably relates to a track-way or boundary feature. Continuing to the N, narrow weakly positive magnetic anomalies [M24] are tentatively suggestive of buried structures. Further N, are two areas of much stronger generalised magnetic disturbance [M26-7] that are indicative of significant activity, perhaps the remains of buildings containing fired clay building materials such as brick and tile. N of the above, two separate E-W aligned linear anomalies [M29-30] are present running along the side of the. Flanking these are additional rectilinear anomalies [M31-2] indicating a resumption of the pattern of enclosures and track-ways seen elsewhere throughout the settlement.

{8} To the north of the survey area a high resistance rectilinear area of response is a probable rectangular building, or range of buildings c.50x15m in size. To the SE of this a series of high resistance anomalies covers an area of c.20x46m. Heading SW are two linear arrangements of high resistance readings indicative of rectangular buildings c.25-30xl0m. Both structures appear to have one internal partition dividing each into two roughly equally sized rooms. These responses are suggestive of a large range of buildings arranged around three sides of a courtyard. Immediately S of the building complex, a slightly lower linear area of readings coincide with the track-way recorded in the magnetometer survey. To the S of this, high resistance values occur adjacent to the ditches defining the enclosure system detected by the magnetometer. These anomalies probably represent the earthwork platforms bounded by ditches or banks of material up-cast at the time of their construction.

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

<2> Supplementary File, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN52260.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.112 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<4> BROWN G., 1975, Kelmarsh and Its Deserted Medieval Village, p.20 (unchecked) (Report). SNN43370.

<5> Rahtz P. (Editor), 1971, Deserted Medieval Village Research Group (Vol.18), p.17 (unchecked) (Annual Report). SNN14192.

<6> Rahtz P. (Editor), 1971, Medieval Village Research Group (Vol.19), p.24 (unchecked) (Annual Report). SNN58317.

<7> Martin, L. & Payne, A., 2005, Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire: Report on Geophysical Survey May and August 2005, p.6 (unchecked) (Report). SNN105412.

<8> Martin, L. & Payne, A., 2005, Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire: Report on Geophysical Survey May and August 2005, p.9 (unchecked) (Report). SNN105412.

Record last edited

Aug 8 2012 2:48PM