Monument record 1301/0/47 - Early Saxon settlement and Middle Saxon Farm, Langham Road

Part of the wider Langham Road excavations. While the site produced a substantial assemblage of early-middle Saxon pottery, the only early Saxon features lay at the north of the site and were probably associated with the extensive settlement identified at Raunds Furnells (HER No 1301/0/182). The only evident focus of occupation was the middle Saxon farm. This building complex comprised two substantial halls aligned at right angles. The general pottery scatter extended eastward suggesting they faced onto a yard. Between the two halls were two possible circular structures, perhaps a stock pen and granary.

{1} Langham Road. Early Saxon settlement comprising postholes and gullies. The structures were restricted to the limestone north and south of a central band of clay.

{3} While the site produced a substantial assemblage of early-middle Saxon pottery, the only features that can be ascribed to the early Saxon period lay at the northern end of the site. They are presumed to have formed the southern part of the extensive early Saxon focus at Furnells. A sunken-featured building was located in the north-eastern part of the site at the the southernmost edge of the Blisworth limestone outcrop. A bronze girdle hanger dating to the 6th century was found in its fill, along with early-middle Saxon pottery. To the immediate north of the sunken-featured building, there was a rough line of postholes on a north-south alignment. These may either have been an associated fence line or the western wall of a contemporary, post-built timber hall, c10-12m long. Some 50m to the west there was a rectilinear group of postholes cut into the limestone. They have defined a small post-built structure, at least 5m long by 2.4m wide, possibly with a fence line running eastward.
A group of post-built timber structures at the southern end of the site produced a large quantity of early-middle Saxon pottery including imported middle Saxon Ipswich ware and Maxey-type ware. The lack of St Neots ware suggests this complex was probably abandoned at the close of the middle Saxon period (c AD 800-850). The two main post-built timber halls were aligned at right angles and between the two lay two circular structures, perhaps a stock pen and granary. A further hall, or halls, may have lain to the south. There was no trace of any enclosure, whether ditched or fenced, surrounding the settlement.

<1> AUDOUY M., 1988, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Note). SNN50307.

<2> Dix B.(ed), 1985, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1983-4, p153 Raunds (Report). SNN100404.

<3> Audouy M.; Chapman A., 2009, Raunds, The Origin and Growth of A Midland Village, AD 450-1500 (Excavations in North Raunds 1997-87), p 108 (Report). SNN106414.

Record last edited

Dec 2 2021 12:58PM