Monument record 3656/2 - Medieval Manor (North Hall Manor?)

Homestead moat and outlying earthworks, no surface remains.

{1} A watching brief was carried out during installation of an interpretation panel at Walgrave moated site (after Scheduled Monument consent had been granted). No pre-modern features were noted.

{3} Moat (SP 80207234) lies immediately N of the village, on clay at 107m above OD, on the W side of a small S-flowing stream. Immediately W and NW of the moat there was formely a group of other earthworks, now entirely destroyed (plotted from air photographs {3a}). They consisted of a length of bank with a ditch on its W side, which at its S end, turned E and enclosed a small sunken rectangular platform, probably a former house-site. To the S was a circular arrangement of ditches, perhaps of recent date and the banks lay to the N and NE. Small scale excavation in the area W of the moat was undertaken in advance of destruction in 1971, but no indication of occupation was discovered {3b}. Nothing is known of the site's history except that it was perhaps called 'Northall'. Certainly by the 18th century the field in which it lies was known as North Hall Close.

{7} A watching brief was carried out during replacement of a pedestrian bridge at the south east corner of Walgrave moated site (after Scheduled Monument consent had been granted). No pre-modern features were noted.

{8} Geophysics showed that the moated enclosure may have been divided into two courts, defined partly by boundary walls and partly by a series of rectangular buildings. In the north west corner of the enclosure are parts of a single range/ structure of two rooms measuring approx 4m square and 2x3m respectively. The smaller room could be a stairwell leading to an upper storey, presumably of the private residence. To the south are two large areas denoting former courtyards. To the east are a range of separate rooms or buildings containing individual features. These could be service buildings, possibly including a hall and kitchen. The entrance to the enclosure can be identified by high resistance readings which denote the site of a gatehouse that formerly projected into the moat.
A series of parallel lines may represent faint traces of the former furrows of the pre-enclosure field system.

{9} (SP 80207234) Moat (LB)

{10} A square homestead moat with causewayed entrance on the west and small adjuncts to the north and south. Two raised areas on the island no doubt are grass covered foundations.
Resurveyed at 1:2500.

<1> Cadman, G.E., 1994, SMR Report Form- Walgrave moated site, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN50033.

<2> Cadman, G.E., 1997, Walgrave Moated Site Management Plan, (unchecked) (Report). SNN54684.

<3a> Aerial Photograph, AP (CUAP, AIL 55,BAP 98) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<3b> 1972, Archaeological Excavations (Various Years), p. 33 (Series). SNN55389.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.148 site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<4> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.217 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100371.

<5> 1778, Map of Walgrave, (checked) (Map). SNN25740.

<6> 1792, Map of Walgrave, (checked) (Map). SNN25741.

<7> Cadman, G.E., 1997, Walgrave Moated Site, Walgrave: Report on Scheduled Monument Consent Works Decemeber 1996, (checked) (Note). SNN72902.

<8> Masters, P., 1992, Geophysical Investigation of a Moated Site at Walgrave, Northants, (checked) (Report). SNN74182.

<9> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1958 (Map). SNN112944.

<10> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 BHS 07-OCT-1969 (Notes). SNN111907.

Record last edited

Oct 6 2022 9:34AM