Monument record 3551 - Deserted medieval settlement of Cotton

Medieval settlement remains of a lost hamlet or village located northwest of Grendon on the northeast side of a small stream. There is a record of a place called Cotton in the 14th century. On air photographs taken before and after destruction by ploughing a number of features are visible including traces of a hollow way approaching the site from the north east, a series of embanked closes to the south of the hollow way and beyond an embanked trapezoidal enclosure and a well-marked ditch. In 1970 a scatter of medieval pottery and a large quantity of limestone, reputedly from building foundations were discovered

{1} Settlement remains perhaps a lost hamlet of Cotton, lie northwest of Grendon on the northeast side of a small stream on gravel at 50 metres above OD. The field name, Cotton Closes, suggests a former settlement here, and a place called Cotton is recorded in the 14th century. On air photographs taken before and after destruction by ploughing a number of features are discernable. These include traces of a hollow way approaching the site from the north east, a series of embanked closes to the south of the hollow way and beyond an embanked trapezoidal enclosure and a well-marked ditch, perhaps natural, are also visible. In 1970 a scatter of medieval pottery and a large quantity of limestone, reputedly from building foundations were discovered.

{2} Suggestion that grid ref SP890926 is incorrect

{3} Source contains plan

Aerial photo: NCCAP: SP8761/105-111

{7} SP 875 610: Earthworks, sunken roads and building stone of the lost village of Cotton in Grendon Parish.

{9} Identification of this site with 'the lost village of Cotton' (or indeed with any DMV) is almost certainly in error. No DMV of corresponding name is recorded in Grendon Parish in 'Deserted Villages of Northants' {2} and no similar name is attached to the parish by EPNS (Vol 10, 1933). A possible solution is that Hall and Nickerson are mistakenly placing the DMV of Cotes or Coten (see DVs Northants p 37) in Grendon instead of Gretton.

Mr Hall said there is documentary evidence for this moat and village site but he could not recall where he has seen it. The field names themselves afford no clue but on the ground a fair amount of building debris can be seen although the moat and other earthworks have now been ploughed out.

{10} No DMV pattern can be recognised at the site given above, but there is the crop-mark of a spread 'D' shaped enclosure.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.55/Site 15 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, p.37 (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<3> HALL D.N., 1973, CBA GROUP 9 NEWSLETTER, 3/21 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN30908.

<4> Northampton Museum Records, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN126.

<5> Brown, A E (ed), 1971, Bulletin of the Northamptonshire Federation of Archaeological Societies, 5/44 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN13960.

<6> 1971, Medieval Archaeology (15), 15/169 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN4977.

<7> Hall D.N., 1966, Sites on the North Bedfordshire and South Northamptonshire border, 3/59 (unchecked) (Article). SNN37934.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP86SE27 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<9> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 03-SEP-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<10> Aerial Photograph, APs RAF 541/341/3084-5 (Photographs). SNN112974.

<11> Miscellaneous Chancery Inquisitions, Calendar of Miscellaneous Inquisitions 3 1348-77 5 (Document). SNN4378.

<12> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, A/P (RAF VAP CPE/UK/1994, 1997-8; F21 543/RAF/943, 0045-6) (Photographs). SNN104890.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 7:46PM