Monument record 1160/235 - The Riding Ground

On Noble & Butlin's map of 1745 there is an open space called the Riding Ground but by 1807 it appears to have been converted into a garden. By 1847, the Riding exisited as a street

{1}Excavations in The Riding in 1981-2. The use of the site as a riding ground in the 18th century is perhaps witnessed by the presence of horseshoes.

Finds dating to the post-medieval period included: coins: Nuremburg jetton of c1580-1610; Elizabeth I threepence 1558-1603; 2 William III halfpennies of 1700; also contemporary forgery of George III halfpenny 1760-1820;Iron objects include anvil tool Fe1 which dropped into hole on face of blacksmiths anvil; Fe24 & Fe25 are post medieval horseshoes;

{2}T C Welsh believes that The Riding was the Town Farm or successor of Gobion's Manor Farm from 1744. He also believes that there are indications that this might have been the house of the Harrisons of Stowe-nine-Churches, or their tenant, in the c16th. He believes that it is too far south west to be the location of Gobion Manor.

<1> WILLIAMS J.H., FARWELL C., 1984, Excavations in The Riding, Northampton, in the Area of Gobion Manor 1981-1982, p92-93 (Article). SNN1096.

<2> WELSH T.C., 1999, NEW LIGHT ON "THE RIDING", NORTHAMPTON, (unchecked) (Document). SNN47506.

Record last edited

Aug 3 2017 11:40AM