Monument record 3673 - Broughton

Broughton settlement remains

{2} The name Broughton is thought to have originated from 'Brook Farm'. The village appears to have shrunk in size since the medieval period as it contains a number of earthworks and the remains of an open field system.

{6} Settlement remains (centred SP 837760) formerly part of Broughton, lie on either side of a steep-sided valley 200 m. N of the church on either side of Gate Lane. They fall into three distinct parts.
Immediately SW of Gate Lane and along the N side of the NE end of Church Street (SP 8370 7590) are several rectangular raised platforms up to 0.75 m high lying parallel to the existing roads and within small embanked closes. These are the remains of former houses and gardens along these roads. To the W, on the W side of the valley (SP 83607595), is a series of low-spread banks extending down the hill-side from the existing gardens of houses in High Street. These appear to be abandoned closes, once belonging to the houses. To the NE of Gate Lane (centred SP 837760) is a more complex series of earthworks, much damaged by later quarrying. These include a sub-rectangular ditched enclosure lying on the edge of the valley side, This enclosure is bounded on the SW, SE and NE by a broad ditch 5 m wide and 0.25 m. deep and is divided into two by a low internal bank.
Ridge-and-furrow abuts onto it in the SE. From it runs a shallow terrace-way leading in a S direction towards the end of Church Street,but broken up by later quarrying. There is also a series of low banks or scarps extending down the hillside, which may be old closes. This area was known as Hall Closes in 1728 but all the remains had been abandoned by this date.

{6} Fieldname: Hall Closes

{8} Ditches extend over the whole field;

NCC Aerial Photograph No. : SP 8376/5+6;

<1> HYLTON T.; MASTERS P., 1998, Empingham to Hannington Anglian Water Pipeline, Northamptonshire Section, Archaeological Evaluation: Stage 1, (checked) (Report). SNN63049.

<2> Grassam, Alexandra, 2008, Land at Great Cransley, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, (checked) (Report). SNN106231.

<3> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p.128 (unchecked) (Series). SNN5881.

<4> Dawson, M., 2012, Heritage Assessment in Respect of HVI/012 Land at Broughton, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN108547.

<5> Richmond A., 2012, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment: Land at Cransley Hill, Broughton, Northamptonshire, 2012, p.27 (checked) (Report). SNN108550.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.14/Site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<7> 1728, Map of Broughton, (unchecked) (Map). SNN33205.

<8> FOARD G.R., 1979, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN51233.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 7:48PM