Monument record 5400/0/18 - Possible medieval settlement, Gate House Farm

Archaeological monitoring during the excavation of trenches of trenches to the north of the farm revealed a medieval stone culvert/drain and a parallel wall.

{1} Monitoring work was undertaken during the construction of foundation trenches adjacent to the house and of trenches in the field to the north of the farmyard and leading into the farmyard itself. A culvert/ drain orientated approx north-south was revealed. It was not fully revealed in plan but the exposed section was 3.2m long and at least 0.5m wide. It was constructed of sorted fragments of ironstone blocks of various sizes. Flat pieces of stone had been used to top the drain and the vertical sides were pushed into a purpose-made cut and supported by smaller stones. No finds were recovered from the drain but the deposit used to backfill the drain cut contained two sherds of medieval pottery.
A second drain was seen in trench 2, of the same construction but on a perpendicular alignment. It may have been the same feature, or a separate drain attached to the first.
Running parallel to the drain in trench 2 were the foundations of a limetone wall which had suvived in loose fragments against the drain. The wall was approx 0.6m wide. The wall was comprised of irregular shaped fragments of flat limestone of varying dimensions. No obvious mortar was used in the construction.
A linear ditch on and east-west alignment, continuing beyond both edges of the trench. It was 0.4m wide and 0.2m deep with gradual sloping sides and a flat base. No finds were recovered.

<1> Fletcher, T., 2013, A Possible Medieval Wall and Associated Drain at Gate House Farm, Culworth, Northamptonshrie: Observation, Investigation and Recording Report, 2013, p.10-11 (checked) (Report). SNN109331.

<2> Horne B. (Editor), 2014, South Midlands Archaeology (44), p. 49 (Journal). SNN109842.

Record last edited

Sep 28 2022 4:05PM