Monument record 3656/0/12 - Site of probable Saxo-Norman/medieval tenement and post-medieval farm

Trial trench excavation revealed a dense concentration of features, including pits, ditches and gullys, dating to the Saxo-Norman/early medieval period. Later activity included a post-medieval farm which had been demolished by 1900

{1} Archaeological trial trench evaluation, comprising the excavation of two trenches, was undertaken prior to residential development. There was a dense concentration of features in the westernmost trench, closest to the street frontage. Dating evidence from the features was somewhat tentative since there was a high likelihood of intrusive later finds from tree root disturbance.

A number of pits, postholes, gullys and ditches appeared to date to the Saxo-Norman and early medieval periods. The ditches were generally aligned east to west and north to south and may define property boundaries. A possible beamslot, aligned north-south, contained early medieval pottery and packing stones. There was no evidence for continued occupation into the later medieval period.

It is probable that the stone structures relate to the post-medieval farmstead which stood on this plot. All of these later features had been subject to at least an element of robbing, to recover building stone. The farm is shown on maps dating to 1778 and 1886, but had been demolished by 1900. The modern surfaces in Trench 2 also probably relate to the farm.

<1> Utrata, S, Wells, J and Edmondson, G, 2012, Land at Butchers Garden, Northall, Walgrave, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Field Evaluation, 2012 (Report). SNN110610.

<2> Horne B. (Editor), 2013, South Midlands Archaeology (43), p. 32 (Journal). SNN111431.

Record last edited

May 9 2024 9:32AM