Monument record 485/2/1 - Medieval Moated Site, Marston Trussell

Earthworks of a Medieval moated manor site, later replaced by a large house. The later house and moat are depicted on a map of 1815.

{1} Presumed the site of the medieval manor house, which was later replaced by a large building arranged around a central courtyard [to the west of the moat?]. This house and the moat are both shown on the Enclosure Map of 1815. The moat consists of a wide ditch, now dry, up to 2m deep, surrounding a small square island which is level with the adjacent ground. It appears to have been filled from a spring in its north-west corner. The south-west corner has been encroached upon by the churchyard wall. The moat is surrounded by a number of embanked and ditched enclosures, with other small indeterminate earthworks to the south, probably representing manorial paddocks. Plans and copy of 1815 map.

{3} [MARGINAL] MARSTON TRUSSELL - at the east end of the village there was formerly a castle, surrounded by a moat, the position of which is still clearly defined.

{4} The moat island is 35m square. The ditched fields and small enclosures relate to manorial paddocks. Possibly the site of the medieval manor house, which was later rebuilt to the north of the church.

{5} NCCAPs:SP6985/002-3 and 6986/002-3.

{6} Possible post-medieval/medieval manor; reference to stone from castle going to Holdenby House when Charles I was a prisoner there.

{8} [Area centred SP 694 859] "…from the top of the church tower one can see traces of mounds and ditches in the field east of the churchyard". [Associated by Authy. With "a Roman villa or some small settlement" - Roman finds having been made in the churchyard - SP 68 NE 11.]

{9} [SP 6937 8599] "Castle site".

{10} SP 6941 8597 - The remains of a homestead moat represented by a dry, mutilated ditch surrounding a rectangular raised area under grass. A spring-fed trough at the north-western corner probably represents the site of the original water-supply. The south-western corner of the ditch has been encroached upon by the nearby churchyard.
To the south of the moat are a number of small, minor enclosures and old field banks. Surveyed 28.3.60.

{11} The enclosures noted by {10} appear to be contemporary with rig-and-furrow ploughing that lies adjacent to this site; there is no marked association with the moat.

{12} No change.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.139-141 Site 7 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP68NE15 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.836 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<4> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, (part checked) (Report). SNN47128.

<5> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<6> A Short Outline of The History of Marston Trussell and The Church of St Peters, p.206 (checked) (Article). SNN1791.

<7> 1815, Marston Trussell Enclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN18093.

<8> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Letter: Rev. P. J. K. LAW, The Rectory, MARSTON TRUSSELL 1949. (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<9> Annotated Record Map, Corr 6' (G. R. LEE, 1956-9). (Map). SNN112961.

<10> WW, 1960, Field Investigators Comments, F1 WW 28-MAR-60 (Note). SNN111457.

<11> Colquhoun, FD, 1960, Field Investigators Comments, F2 FDC 03-MAR-60 (Notes). SNN112761.

<12> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F3 JB 16-MAR-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

Record last edited

Feb 4 2025 7:16PM