Monument record 5460/0/8 - Probable C13th/C14th Boundary Ditch, The Bungalow

Archaeological observation undertaken during the construction of a new house identified a 13th/14th century ditch, possibly a tenement boundary, providing the first below-ground evidence of medieval occupation in the area

{1} Archaeological observation was undertaken during the construction of a new house in 2012. Beneath a buried soil layer, towards the north end of the trench was a ditch. It was orientated north-west to south-east. The ditch was c.1.1m wide x 0.3m deep. The medieval ditch was exposed for a distance of 13.5m and continued beyond the edges of the fieldwork area. Two sherds of Potterspury ware were recovered from its fill providing a broad date of C13th-C14th for the use of the ditch. A soil sample was also taken. Given the cross-slope alignment the ditch probably represents a property boundary.

Occasional medieval pottery was present at the interface between the buried soil layer and the medieval ditch fill, possibly indicating the vestiges of an old ground surface. The pottery included 1 sherd of Brill ware and 4 sherds of Potterspury ware.

No further medieval features were identified but a narrow and shallow gully entered the south side of the medieval ditch where it terminated, thus using the earlier ditch. The gully dated to the late C19th. A post medieval stone-filled field drain entered the medieval ditch from the south-west, turned sharply to the south-east and ran along the course of the ditch for about 8m (indicating that the ditch was still visible when the field drain was put in).

<1> Wilson M., 2012, Archaeological Observation, Investigation and Recording at The Bungalow, Stoke Park, Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire, p.10 (checked) (Report). SNN109420.

Record last edited

Nov 28 2019 10:10AM