Monument record 4209 - Possible Prehistoric Settlement, Brampton Wood

Earthworks of a ring ditch 45m in diameter, within a rectangular but incomplete enclosure of more than 8ha. Trial trench excavation indicated that they were wide and shallow; no finds were recovered.

{2} Possible earthworks revealed by differences in foliage in undergrowth of Brampton Wood. This is an area of old woodland.

{3} Survey of site to determine whether cropmark features showing on 1973 aerial photograph were visible on the ground. Features were identified including earthwork traces of a ditch 3-5m wide and 0.10m deep; a broad U shaped profile ditch 1.0-1.50m wide and 0.30m deep - roughly circular and a linear ditch aligned north south - 1.0-1.50m deep and up to 0.35m deep. Possiblity of other features which were not able to be identified due to nature of ground cover. Function and date of features not determined, but could be of ancient origin.

{4} Trial trench excavation of the earthworks indicated that the ditches were between 2m and 3m wide and between 0.1m and 0.2m deep. No artefacts were found.

{6} Earthworks of a ring ditch 45m in diameter, within a rectangular but incomplete enclosure of more than 8ha.

{7} NCCAP: SP7985/001-2.

{8} The preliminary trial trenching was undertaken in very poor conditions and further investigation is required, including examination of adjoining ride side ditches should cleaning be undertaken. Whilst the form of the monument suggests an iron Age or Roman date, later use cannot be ruled out. The site may be worthy of protection by scheduling.

{9} Lidar imagery indicates that the internal ring ditch is complete with no apparent entrance, although the outer enclosure is only visible on the eastern side.

<1> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1974, Archaeology In Northamptonshire 1973, p.114 (unchecked) (Article). SNN9109.

<2> FOARD G.R., 1979, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN51278.

<3> CADMAN G.E., 1995, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN49912.

<4> Tingle M., 2000, Brampton Wood evaluation, March 2000, (unchecked) (Report). SNN100683.

<5> Pickering J., 1977, AP List for North-West Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN39535.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.10 Site 3 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77380.

<7> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<8> Hall D.N., 2000, Forest Enterprise Woodlands In Northamptonshire: Whittlewood Forest And Other Woods, Archaeological Survey, Part 3, p. 6, Brampton Wood Site 1 (Report). SNN100485.

<9> Environment Agency, LIDAR Composite DTM - 1m, Accessed 08/05/2024 (Digital Plots). SNN111710.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 7:53PM