Monument record 3619 - Isham

Isham medieval shrunken village remains

{1} A map of 1800 shows much of the site as already having been abandoned by this date.

{4} The surviving village earthworks, and in particular the hollow ways, appear to be part of the plan of the existing village and may represent a consciously planned medieval layout. The period of desertion is unknown. In 1086 Domesday Book lists 18 people. In 1377 93 people over the age of 14 paid Poll Tax and in 1674 59 people paid Hearth Tax. In 1801 the total population of the parish was 247.

{5} Between 1966 and 1971 a series of archaeological excavations were carried out by the author in the village of Isham. Site evidence clearly showed that there had been almost continuous occupation of the area from Neolithic times to the present day. Of particular interest was the Saxo-Norman pottery form Manor House Farm to the south of the present village, and another group of the same pottery to the north. Both groups pin-pointed the position of Saxon manors form which the present village has grown.

{6} Building development, roadworks, and extensions to the village school, made necessary a series of rescue excavations in the village of Isham, Northants. A Saxon manor, followed by the medieval manor, all well documented, produced interesting groups of pottery. Later occupation of the derelict site was represented by a few seventeenth century pots and a small bake-oven. On the opposite edge of the village, a scatter of Saxon and Medieval pottery was taken from the fringe of a second manor, also well documented.

<1> 1800, Map of Isham, (unchecked) (Map). SNN105861.

<2> PRO series E179, PRO E179/254/14 (Document). SNN115882.

<3> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.343, 349 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.101 site 5 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<5> Fox J.R., 1975, History of Three Manors in Isham, Northants, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN43835.

<6> Fox J.R., 1976, Excavations at Isham, Northants: 1966-71, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN58181.

<7> Fox J.R., Unknown, Isham, (unchecked) (Report). SNN58182.

<8> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, A/P (RAF VAP CPE/UK/1925, 2531-2, 3241-2) (Photographs). SNN104890.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 7:47PM