Monument record 57/1 - Rainsborough Camp (also known as Charlton Camp)

Bivallate Iron Age hillfort, and later occupation. Suggested centre for an Iron Age 'estate' which remained intact until the medieval period.

{1} Now under permanent pasture; NCC Aerial Photo: SP 5234/001-7.

{2} Earthwork; Rainsborough Camp; roughly oval Iron Age hillfort covering 2.6ha; double bank and ditch; inner bank up to 3m high above the interior; inner ditch up to 4m deep; outer bank and ditch reduced to max 1m on south by ploughing; nothing on east side; only slight trace of ditch on west side; 0.75m high stone wall on inner bank is an 18th century addition; original entrance is on the west side; east entrance is possibly Romano-British; other gaps are 17th century access-ways; interior is flat and feature-less following cultivation; Rainsborough was possibly the centre of a large Iron Age estate which remained intact into the medieval period; Excavation was undertaken in 1961-5; occupation debris was found dating to the 1st century AD.

{5} Rainsborough or Charlton Camp. Additional reference with plan.

{6} Excavations of Rainsborough camp during 1961-5 revealed the following. A bivallate IA fort, the inner bank standing about 10ft above the interior, with a drop of about 15ft into the inner ditch; the second bank is very much lowered by ploughing, but still reaches a height of about 4ft on the S side, where a hedge line has protected it; the outer ditch is not visible on the surface except on the W, when it carries a higher growth of weeds.

?6th/5thc BC postholes and scatter of occupation debris before construction of the first rampart.

5thc BC double rampart and ditch with an inturned entrance on the west, having two stone-lined C-shaped guardrooms set into the inturns. The inner rampart being stone faced.

?Early 4thc BC period of occupation; inner ditch cleaned out followed by deliberate burning of fort.

?Late 2nd c BC double bank ditch, simple inner entrance, perhaps unfinished.

?Late 1st c AD RB pottery of this date found in outer ditch indicating occupation.

?Late 4th c AD stone foundations of a 10ft square RB building, (the floor of which contained 20 coins, ranging in date from the 3rd to 4th c AD were set upon the filled-in inner ditch near the inner entrance causeway.

In the 18thc the inner bank was heightened and inner ditch deepened; walling put round the summit of the inner bank for landscape gardening.

Finds of early IA sherds dating from 6th to 2ndc BC, together with a bronze ring.

{9} Fieldname: Reynsbury

{17} Nothing visible on air photographs.

{18} A plateau fort under permanent pasture and in fair condition despite many minor mutilations to the ramparts. See 1:2500 survey revised.

The feature shown on Auth {6}'s plan and marked barrow is landscaping.

{19} No change to report of 10 2 70. Survey transferred to 1:2500 MSD.

{20} SP 526 348. Rainsborough. Listed in gazetteer as a multivallate hillfort covering 2.5ha.

<1> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p.50 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10113.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, P.105/Site 1 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<3> WOODS 'LIFE AND TIMES' III JULY 1694, vol.3 p.461 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN60196.

<4> 1955, OS 6 Inch Mapping Series, 1955 (unchecked) (Map). SNN10054.

<5> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.216 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<6> Avery; Sutton; Banks, 1967, Rainsborough, Northants, England: Excavations 1961-1965, p.207-307 (unchecked) (Report). SNN104793.

<7> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, 1842 EWKII Drawer (unchecked) (Archive). SNN115.

<8> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, 1842 Parish File (unchecked) (Archive). SNN115.

<9> 1932, Fieldnames Overlay (SP53SW), (unchecked) (Map). SNN5422.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP53SW11 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<11> Chapman, R.G. (Ed.), 1961/2, Oxoniensia (26/7), p.26-7+336-39 (Journal). SNN10090.

<12> 1962, Archaeometry, vol.5 p.126-34 (Journal). SNN10104.

<13> 1961, Untitled Source, 1961 (Interim Report). SNN46115.

<15> Clelland, S. & Batt, C.M., 2010, A Re-Investigation of the Scientific Dating Evidence From the Hillfort at Rainsborough, (unchecked) (Article). SNN107489.

<16> Willey, F, 1968?, Rainsborough Camp (Photographic prints (B&W)). SNN111523.

<17> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, Aerial Photographs (RAF CPE/UK 1929 3170-1 16.1.47) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<18> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, JB 10-FEB-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<19> Allanson, C D, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, CDA 07-OCT-76 (Notes). SNN112955.

<20> Hogg, AHA, 1979, British Hillforts: an index, p. 189 (Journal). SNN114272.

<21> Historic England, Undated, Rainsborough Hillfort photograph (Archive). SNN115961.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 7:05PM