Monument record 1160/34 - Saxon and medieval settlement and late 15th to 17th century tanning complex (Eastern and Western complexes), The Green

Excavations at The Green in 1983 revealed evidence for late Saxon and medieval buildings. During the medieval period the site lay within the area between St Peter's Street and The Green and most of the features of this date are rubbish pits. Two late medieval drying ovens were also found. Between the 15th and 17th centuries large areas of the site were given over to tanning, comprising up to three tanneries. Forty-six tanning pits, both circular and rectagular and generally clay-lined, were excavated. Other features of the tanning complex were quantities of lime, used in the initial preparation of the hides for tanning, and a large number of horn cores, presumably trimmed off the hides brought from the butcher. The animal bone evidence would suggest that cattle and horse hides and sheep skins were all being processed. Documentary evidence that a number of tanners were working in the area from the 16th century onwards; it is likely that the Northern and Western Tanneries were in the tenure of one man, John Buckby,

{1}Excavation carried out in 1983. Partial plans of post hole buildings of late Saxon and early Medieval date were recovered. During the Medieval period the site lay chiefly in the yard area between St Peter's Street and The Green, and most features of that date were rubbish pits. Two late Medieval drying ovens of unusual design were also discovered. In the 16th century large areas of the site were given over to tanning and 46 tanning pits, generally clay-lined, were excavated. Associated features included quantities of lime, used in the preparation of hides for tanning, and a large number of horn cores which were presumably trimmed from the hides brought from the butcher. The tanning features were grouped into two or three different areas and may represent individual small tanneries rather than a single large establishment.

{6} The phase of tanning activity can be divided into two: sub-phase 1 (c. 1470-1550) comprises the Western, Northern (Phase 1) and North-Western Tanneries and sub-phase 2 (c. 1550-1700) is composed of the Northern (Phase 2), Eastern and Central Tanneries, although it is possible that all three formed a single tanning complex. Evidence of earlier activity in the area, principally of late Saxon - medieval date, was uncovered, but the main phase of tanning activity coincided with a period of dereliction. The tanneries were composed of circular and rectangular pits. The animal bone evidence would suggest that cattle and horse hides and sheep skins were all being processed, despite contemporary prohibitions of this practise. All the tanneries were small, the largest only comprised 36-37 pits; many of the pits contained lime and ash which would have been used in the de-hairing process. Chemical analyses of the soil suggest they were being used both for pre-tanning operations and for tanning itself.
The results of this excavation, along with other sites in south-west Northampton, and particularly the unusual animal bone assemblages, suggest some form of skin-processing and possibly other slaughter associated industries. There is good evidence of tanning, both of vegetable tanning, of heavy cattle and horse hides and tawing of sheep and goat skins, as well as skinning of cats, squirrel and possibly polecat/ferret in south-west northampton, beginning with the evidence for the late Saxon period from St James' Square and continuing up to the 18th/19th century with the deposits of sheep metapodials and phalanges from Black Lion Hill.

{7} Publication of earlier phases of the site. The only early-middle Saxon activity was a ditch in the north-west corner which appeared to mark the southern limit of activity during this period. Evidence of late Saxon activity mirrored that of other sites comprising primarily pits, wells and postholes, some no doubt of timber buildings. A large quantity of bloomery tap slag and forging slag from late Saxon contexts implies that there was a bloomery furnace and associated hearth for forging nearby. Two litharge 'cakes' indicate cupellation was being undertaken on a substantial scale.

During the late medieval period the layout of individual property boundaries can be discerned with three properties fronting St Peter's Street forming the back areas of Houses 8, 9and 10 of the St Peter's Street excavation. To the south there appears to have been properties aligned along Narrow Toe Lane and Freeschool Street. Multiple pits and two drying ovens are associated with this phase.

<1> Dix B.(ed), 1985, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1983-4, p.155 Northampton (Report). SNN100404.

<2> 1984, The Green, Northampton, 34-5 (Interim Report). SNN56475.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.394/Site 51 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<4> SHAW M., 1984, Northampton: excavating a 16th century tannery (Article). SNN110804.

<5> SHAW M., 1987, Early post-medieval tanning in Northampton, England (Article). SNN71934.

<6> SHAW M., 1996, The excavation of a late 15th to 17th century tanning complex at The Green, Northampton, p. 63-127 (Article). SNN62141.

<7> Shaw, M, 2021, Excavations at The Green, Northampton 1983: the Anglo-Saxon and medieval phases, p. 257-304 (Article). SNN112916.

Record last edited

Mar 26 2025 3:39PM