Monument record 1676/0/13 - Possible Manor House site, Grafton Road

Low earthworks which, according to local tradition, represented the site of a manor house. In 1986, during the construction of two houses, substantial walls constructed of stone and brick were found. According to Markham, the 'old manor' stood here until 1874.

{1} Settlement remains (SP 896829) formerly part of the village, lie in the SE of the village at the S end of Chase Road, on Northampton Sand at 80 m. above OD. An area of about 1 hectare is occupied by low, indeterminate banks and scarps. On the E a well-marked bank separates the area from the adjacent ridge-and-furrow. According to local tradition this is the site of a manor house but it is more likely to represent small houses and gardens.

{3} Foundations of possible former Manor House exposed in evaluation. At the south end of lower terrace the walls of a substantial stone and brick building. The site according to Markham's history of Geddington, was occupied by the "old manor house" and was demolished in c.1874. The building is shown on the enclosure map as The Duke's Arms public house. The foundations of the building partly overlay a ditch with 13th century pottery. Elsewhere the foundation-trenches cut through what appeared to be a quarry-pit over 8m in diameter and 2m deep, which had been dug into the underlying ironstone and was later backfilled with ironstone rubble and domestic refuse containing 13th-century pottery.
[NGR supplied with source is incorrect]

{4} Settlement Earthworks (RFP Survey).

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.198/Site 12 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Markham, History of Geddington, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN104689.

<3> Dix B.(ed), 1986-7, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1985-6, p.157 Geddington (checked) (Report). SNN100334.

<4> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, (unchecked) (Database). SNN102279.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 7:05PM