Monument record 819/0/1 - Probable Medieval settlement, Corby Road

Trial trench excavation revealed evidence of medieval occupation in the form of shallow pits, gullies and postholes. Pottery from the site suggests a 13th century date for the majority of features.

{1} Evidence of medieval occupation in the form of shallow pits, gullies and post holes was discovered. Pottery from the site suggests a 13th century date for the majority of the features. The features suggest structural activity but the form and nature of any such structure could not be determined.
Trench 1 contained a single posthole and pit, the latter was partially truncated by a modern pit cut down through the subsoil.
The pit was cut into natural clay, it was 1.1m wide x 0.2m deep and continued beyond the excavated area. It had a broad U-shaped profile with steep sides and a flat base. 11 sherds of C13th pottery (including wasters), a fragment of glazed roof tile and 2 fragments of animal bone were recovered. It should be noted that although interpreted as a pit, this feature could represent the butt end of a ditch or gully.
The posthole lay north of the pit, and was 0.30m in diameter x 0.36m deep, with vertical sides and a slightly rounded base.
Trench 4 containd a number of archaeological features: a pit, four gullies, four postholes and a possible slot.
Gully [407] was aligned north to south, 0.30m wide x 0.11m deep, with a shallow concave profile. It contained 4 sherds of medieval pottery, one of which was a waster.
Gully [409] was on a similar alignment but slightly wider and deeper than gully [407]. It was 0.60m wide x 0.18m deep and had a concave profile. 2 pieces of fired clay and 4 sherds of medieval pottery came from its fill. A single sherd of C19th pottery was also recovered, but thought to be intrusive. This gully was vut by later posthole [417].
Gully [413] was aligned north-east to south-west, 0.50m wide x 0.08m deep, with shallow sides and an irregular base. It contained 5 sherds of medieval pottery.
Gully [415] was 0.75m wide narrowing at its northern end. It had a concave profile and was only 0.1m deep. It contained 3 sherds of medieval pottery.
Slot [421] was cut by gully [409]. It was c.1.8m long x 0.28m wide x 0.18m deep with a gently sloping north side. Its eastern end was cut by posthole [419].
Posthole [411] was 0.28m wide x 0.17m deep with vertical sides and a flat base. It contained 2 probable pieces of limestone packing as well as a small fragment of animal bone.
Posthole [417] was 0.30m in diameter x 0.18m deep with a steep sided, flat-based profile. It contained a large packing stone. The posthole cut earlier gully [409].
Posthole [419] was ovoid in shape, 0.50m wide x 0.18m deep, with steep sides and a concave base. It contained packing stones as well as medieval pottery and a heavily corroded iron object, possibly a pair of scissors.
Posthole [423] was 0.2m in diameter x 0.1m deep with steep sides and a flat base. It contaioned medieval pottery.
Pit [405] was 1.3m long x 0.85m wide x 0.10m deep, with shallow sides and a flat base. It contained 28 sherds of medieval pottery, some with unusual decoration.
The structural features are located away from the present Corby Road, this distance precluding the existance of a substantially sized structure fronting onto the road. This raises the possibility that the Corby Road itself did not exist at the time or that its present size does not accurately reflect its medieval predecessor.

{2} Reference incorporates report SNN106588, thus repeating summary above.

<1> Foard-Colby A., 2006, Archaeological Trial Excavation at 3 Corby Road, Stanion, October 2006, p.3-7 (checked) (Report). SNN106588.

<2> Holmes M.; Foard A.; Dawson M., 2006, Archaeological Evaluation Report: 3 Corby Road, Stanion, Northamptonshire, p.13-18 (checked) (Report). SNN105827.

Record last edited

Jun 30 2021 10:46AM