Monument record 1347/3 - Medieval and post-medieval settlement, West Street

There was medieval occupation along the former lane frontage. The earthworks in this area relate to post-medieval buildings still standing in 1827. There was significant quarrying to the south

{1} Remains of farm (SP 973713) immediately W of Stanwick village. A series of low earthworks, including building-platforms, banks and
enclosures comprises the remains of a farmstead, with associated paddocks, still standing in 1838.


{4} Earthworks in the area could represent the site of the farm of John Campion as identified on the 1838 enclosure map.

{5} Geophysical survey confirmed the presence of archaeological features along the southern frontage of the former lane, where remains of medieval to post-medieval settlement had been anticipated. However, it has been unable to detect the remains of a post-medieval farmstead known from historic maps, as the relevant part of the survey data has been badly affected by magnetic interference from a modern pipe.

{6} Trial trench excavation identified a series of undated, but early, ditches, gullies, pits and a droveway. An Iron Age/Roman date could not be ruled out. These features were post-dated by the remains of several stone buildings that were of probable medieval origin and represent more than one phase of building. The medieval remains comprised stone buildings, a track way, walls and yard surface. This period of occupation appears to have had its peak during the 11th to 14th centuries, with later buildings still standing in 1827 (Bryant's Map). By the end of the 19th century the buildings were no longer present and are likely to have been demolished. The surviving earthworks in this area relate to the post-medieval buildings and their subsequent removal. The occupation lay along the frontage of a local back road which led onto Cotton Lane immediately to the west. This local road was also no longer present by the late 19th century.
The southern part of the site was disturbed by quarrying, probably during the medieval or post-medieval periods. Also in the southern part of the site were earthworks of small rectangular fields which post-dated the ridge and furrow of the open fields.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.83/Site 21 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> 1838, Enclosure Map of Stanwick, (unchecked) (Map). SNN36602.

<3> 1993, Raunds Area Project?, p.67 (unchecked) (Note). SNN36487.

<4> Parry S. et al, 2006, Raunds Area Survey: An Archaeological Study of The Landscape of Raunds, Northamptonshire 1985-94, p. 164 (Book). SNN105780.

<5> Walford, J., 2014, Archaeological geophysical survey at West Street, Stanwick, Northamptonshire, April 2014 (Report). SNN110073.

<6> Elston, J & Simmonds, C., 2016, Archaeological earthwork survey and trial trench evaluation on land at West Street, Stanwick, Northamptonshire April to May 2016 (Report). SNN110863.

<7> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 44-5 (Journal). SNN111362.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 7:18PM