Monument record 4140/0/47 - Site of Japonica Cottage, High Street

Site of two cottages, both known as Japonica Cottage, demolished in 1959. Archaeological investigation prior to development of the site showed that the cottages dated to at least 1700, possibly earlier. On the north-eastern side were the remains of timber-lined cellar which had been infilled in the early 18th-century; the relationship between the cellar and the cottages was not established, but they may have been contemporary. The west wall of the larger cottage survives as a boundary wall onto the High Street.

{1} Archaeological investigation prior to development of the site confirmed the remains of an L-shaped building that had occupied the site for around two and half centuries. From at least the late 19th century the building had comprised two separate dwellings. Historical research revealed that the two dwellings were known as Japonica Cottage, at least from the late 19th century onwards, when they were occupied by two Baptist families, the Colemans and the Spendloves. The cottages were both demolished in 1959 [report includes photographs taken at the time], although the west wall of the larger dwelling still survives as a boundary wall onto the High Street and has been retained and conserved in the current development.

To the north-east of the cottages, was a cellar. It was long and narrow, over 2 m in depth, and appears to have been timber-lined. It was in-filled in a single event. Pottery sherds from the fill denote a redundancy date in the late 1600s or early 1700s. A construction date for the cellar was not established. Neither could a date be ascertained for the construction of cottage. It was confirmed that a portion of one cottage remains buried and apparently undisturbed.

<1> Wilson, M, 2017, Former Site of Japonica Cottage, 76 High Street, Gretton, Northamptonshire: Archaeological investigation (Report). SNN112305.

<2> Crank, N. (Editor), 2021, South Midlands Archaeology (51), p. 65 (Journal). SNN113326.

Record last edited

May 12 2025 8:47AM