Monument record 1174/2 - Anglo-Saxon Cemetery, Passenham Rectory

Skeletons have been found beneath Passenham Rectory in 1873 and 1965. On the latter occasion they were observed to be closely packed, but not in individual graves, and apparently associated with 9th century pottery. A "war cemetery" and plague burials are two of the possible interpretations offered so far.

{1} In excavating to lay a new floor in the dining room of the rectory (SP 78033937) at Passenham in 1873 6 skeletons were discovered 18" below the surface which "competant judges" thought were more than a 1,000 years old. Later another skeleton was found 16" below the flooring of the hall. While preparing a vault 50 skeletons were exhumed. In a field 1/4m N of Passenham "human remains are everywhere to be met with just below the surface.' [HER no 1181/1/1] Doubtful AS burials.

{2} Possibly Anglo-Saxon in date?

{3} Associated with C5th pottery (?).

{4} Beneath the present derelict rectory at Passenham, seven skeletons were discovered during building work in 1873. Further finds were made in 1965 at Passenham Rectory. Possible Saxon, close-packed burials beneath the floor. Not in graves which suggests plague burial (associated C9th pottery?).

{6} In 1947, five burials were recovered by workmen digging near the church and rectory in 1947. All the remains appeared to be of young males. Four of the bodies were aligned with their heads to the west and feet to the east. A fifth burial was interred with its head to the east.

{7} Beneath the floor of Passenham rectory (disused) close packed burials believed to be Anglo-Saxon were found with C9th pottery in 1965.

{8} Record of discovery in 1965 of an Anglo-Saxon "war cemetery" tentatively dated to 921 AD.

{12} Local residents digging holes at the barn of the manor in 1993. C.Woodfield inspected the holes and found dis-articulated human bone.

{13} Building development observation 1983 by G. Foard. Passenham Rectory SP78023939. The rectory was part demolished. Shallow east-west orientated burials observed in sides of new footings and trenches along old walls. At least twelve individuals. Two other possible graves. Four abraded saxon sherds were found in three of the graves.

{16} During building works in 1965, several inhumations were found beneath the living room floor. 'There was a pit in front of the fireplace with two skeletons and there was another larger pit with some six to eight skeletons. They were facing east, not thrown in.' There was part of a Saxon loom weight and some Saxon sherds, including one sherd of a decorated Anglo-Saxon Buckelurn (finds now lost).

{17} The inhumations were not in graves; this suggests a plague burial.

<1> Meaney A.L., 1964, Gazetteer of Early Anglo-Saxon Burial Sites, p. 194 (Gazetteer). SNN10289.

<2> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.573 (Book). SNN1002.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP73NE8 (Index). SNN443.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 109/site 6 (Series). SNN77382.

<5> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 236 (Series). SNN100368.

<6> 1947, The Wolverton Express (Article). SNN4106.

<7> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1966, Bulletin of the Northamptonshire Federation of Archaeological Societies (Migration and Early Medieval), p. 15 (Article). SNN17736.

<8> 1966, Medieval Archaeology (10), 10/172 (Journal). SNN58109.

<9> 1965, The Times, p. 11 (Article). SNN59997.

<10> 1968, Journal of The Wolverton and District Archaeological Society, p. 20-5 [does not appear in this volume- unsure of provenance] (Journal). SNN11928.

<11> 1969, Journal of the Wolverton and District Archaeological Society, p. 6 (Newsletter). SNN27392.

<12> CADMAN G.E., 1993, Charmian Woodfield reports re Passenham (Note). SNN50001.

<13> FOARD G.R., 1983, Oral Report to The SMR (Oral Report). SNN50922.

<14> FOARD G.R., 1983, Site Records (Uncertain). SNN4115.

<15> Kiberd, P, 1996, Passenham Rectory: Human Skeletal Material (Report). SNN112400.

<16> Unknown, 1991?, Passenham Rectory skeletal material recovered during Don Ritson's Building Works (Notes). SNN112401.

<17> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 27-OCT-69 (Note). SNN111452.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:29PM