Monument record 105/0/3 - Earthwork Medieval & Post Medieval Park Pale (Southern Boundary)

The park bank only exists in part along the southern boundary, in most places reduced to a simple scarp, although the internal ditch still survives upslope

{7} On the north side of Boughton Wood (SP91288265) the park boundary turns east and runs along the north side of a small east-flowing brook. Although the bank exists in some places along this section it is now mainly reduced to a simple scarp. The internal ditch, up to 4m wide, still survives up-slope of it. To the north-east of Old Head Wood (SP93408274) the boundary crosses the Grafton-Brigstock road, where it turns south [thus forming the western boundary of the Little Park].

{8} A ditch was recorded by D.Hall during fieldwork, running along the boundary to the north of Boughton Wood. A further section of ditch was recorded running along the boundary to the north of Old Head Wood.

{9} The enclosure paling bank was sectioned in 1982. It showed that the internal ditch was overwhelmed by colluvium from adjacent, steeply sloping fields and could not be excavated. A preserved medieval soil was uncovered beneath the bank, both bank and buried soil being composed of a stiff clean reddish-brown clay.

<1> Brasier W., 1728, Brigstock Map (NRO Map 3111), (unchecked) (Map). SNN38437.

<2> 1734, Brigstock Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN38438.

<3> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1974, Archaeology In Northamptonshire 1973, p.103 (unchecked) (Article). SNN9109.

<4> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1974, Council for British Archaeology: Group 9 Newsletter, p.24 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN17341.

<5> 1635, Map of Brigstock Park, (unchecked) (Map). SNN55603.

<6> Pettit P.A.J., 1968, The Royal Forests of Northamptonshire: A Study in Their Economy 1558-1714, p.164-182 (unchecked) (Series). SNN42130.

<7> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.21-3 Site 11 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77379.

<8> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, (unchecked) (Database). SNN102279.

<9> FOSTER P., 1988, Changes in the landscape: an archaeological study of the clay uplands in the Brigstock area of Northamptonshire (Dissertation). SNN71342.

Record last edited

Nov 15 2018 10:45AM