Monument record 1301/0/184 - Late Saxon/ medieval tenements, Rotton Row

Archaeological evaluation was undertaken in 1992 and a subsequent excavation in 2002 on land to the rear of 14 Rotton Row. Continuous activity from the late Saxon through to the post-medieval period was identified. A series of east-west aligned ditches formed boundaries defining plots/tenements which persisted throughout this period. During the late Saxon period the plots showed little or no activity perhaps suggesting horticultural or agricultural use. From the early to late medieval period the plots enclosed areas of occupation consisting of postholes and slot features. Some of the features probably formed parts of linear and sub-rectangular structures.

{1} A trial trench excavation and geophysical survey were undertaken in 1992. The geophysical survey results were difficult to interpret, but several intersecting ditch-like anomalies were identified. Six trenches were excavated and archaeological features were identified in all of them.
Trench 1: Two parallel ditches which may form a significant boundary. A series of eight postholes and/or small pits occurred at random within the trench without forming a meaningful pattern.
Trench 2: A large feature may represent a pit. Its infilling was cut by a stone-filled pit or posthole.
Trench 3: 3 postholes, a ditch, a possible pit and an undeterminate feature. A slot running south west to north east. Its structural nature is suggested by the presence of three evenly apaced postholes located along its south eastern side. A group of five aligned postholes to the south west may also have been structural.
Trench 4: 8 post holes, three possible ditches and a single gully. One posthole contained the remains of stone packing, but the other postholes were scattered across the trench without forming any meaningful pattern.
Trench 5: 13 potential postholes were scattered over the trench without any coherent pattern.
Trench 6: 3 features were seen which were interpreted as possible post medieval pits.

{3} The archaeological evidence found during the trial trench excavation consists of cut features such as ditches and postholes found at depths ranging between 250 mm and 700 mm and sealed by a layer of old soil perhaps resulting from former cultivation. The date of the inferred cultivation cannot be determined but a small quantity of late medieval reduced wares retrieved from the same horizon provides a terminus post quem sometime in the 15th century. Late Saxon/Saxo-Norman material, found in the same deposit, could indicate that earlier levels may have become incorporated in the ‘cultivation’ soil.

{4} An excavation was undertaken in 2002. Late Saxon activity on the site appears to be very limited, with only a few postholes relating to the formation of a possible fence and a terminal at the west end of a remnant of an east-west aligned ditch, both of which most likely form part of plot boundaries.
The lack of settlement on the site during this period does not necessarily mean a decline in occupation of the area, but a re-organisation of the landscape. This reorganisation was clearly evident from the Furnells and Langham Road excavations where linear boundary ditches were creating plots on an approximately east-west and north-south orientation possibly from the Rotton Row frontage. The late Saxon ditch was probably one of these plot boundaries which was on a similar alignment with east-west boundary identified in the Langham Road excavation to the west of the site. The fence line, approximately 10m north of the ditch, probably formed a sub-division of a plot, which was usually a chain in width (20m). Within some of these plots timber buildings were constructed, of which two were identified to the north of the site in the adjacent Langham Road excavation, indicating occupation was close to the site. The plots on the site were probably of agricultural use, perhaps associated with the adjacent buildings.

The boundaries created in the late Saxon period emerged to form the basis of tenement plots into the medieval period. The late Saxon ditch on the site was redefined by the construction of another ditch, although shifted to the north by approximately 1m, but still on the east-west alignment.
The boundary ditch defining the two plots continued in use into the later medieval period. The ditch continued into at least the 16th century, at which point it is probably replaced by a limestone wall, located approximately 1.5-2m to the north of the ditch. The wall continued in existence into the 20th century, with its demolition occuring only recently, ending a thousand years of this enduring boundary.
The plot on the south side of the boundary ditch is defined by another east-west aligned ditch on the south edge of the excavation. This ditch is probably a sub-division of the plot. The ditches are approximately 6m apart, occupying an area between them, possibly forming a simple structure, which may be no more than a fence forming a north-south sub-division.

Probable structural activity was based on two shallow slots and several posthole features which formed the possible east end of a rectangular building. One slot was approx 3.8m long and aligned N-S. At its north end the other slot formed a right angled corner and extended 1.4m west. There was no slot present on the south side but it is possible that this side was formed by postholes, or it may have been an open sided lean-to structure.
There appears to have been a second phase to the slot structure with the additon, or replacement of the slots with posts, as several postholes cut the slots but by themselves did not form a coherent strcutre. A cluster of post and stake holes around the corner where the two slots meet, suggests a chief point in the structure which was possibly under regular repair.
The plot on the north side of the boundary ditch, in the early medieval period contained an insubstantial slot and post building, possibly a lean-to with a possible open south facing side. It was unlikely to have been used for human habitation, as there is a lack of domestic debris that would be associated with occupation, but it may have had some agricultural purpose.

During the later medieval period a building on the east side of the tenement came into existence. The part of the structure visible was probably of a linear beam slot construction with to substantial slots. They were aligned north-south and joined by a lesser slot running east -west. Together these slots may have formed the west end of a probable large building extending off site to the east.
The latest date of the pottery from the building slots suggests a 15th century date but this may only indicate the date the building was dismantled or abandoned.
The building was probably situated at the backage of the now well-defined medieval tenement plot off Rotton Row.

The boundary ditch defining the two plots continued in use into the later medieval period. The ditch continued into at least the 16th century, at which point it is probably replaced by a limestone wall, located approximately 1.5-2m to the north of the ditch. The wall continued in existence into the 20th century, with its demolition occuring only recently, ending a thousand years of this enduring boundary.

<1> Audouy, M.F.A; Masters, P; & Webster, M.C., 1992, Archaeological Evaluation at 14 Rotton Row, Raunds, p.3-7 (checked) (Report). SNN75400.

<2b> Masters, P., 1992, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN48842.

<2a> AUDOUY M., 1992, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN50311.

<3> Shaw M. (Editor), 1993, Northamptonshire: Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit, Report for 1992, 23/49 (checked) (Report). SNN39924.

<4> Morris S., 2002, Excavation at 14 Rotton Row, Raunds, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN102280.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2022 3:23PM