Monument record 4203/0/10 - Settlement remains, East Farndon

Medieval settlement remains comprising a former hollow way, the remains of several houses and small-scale qauarrying. Earlier interpretations as possible Civil war earthworks have been discounted.

{1} On the crest of a hill to the W. of the village ('a' on plan), on Lias Clay and Boulder Clay at 145 m. above OD, in an area known as Hall Close, is a large area of earthworks, much damaged by later quarry pits (SP 71608500). They consist of the fragmentary remains of rectangular closes bounded by low scarps and banks nowhere above 0.5 m. high. Slight depressions on the E., close to the existing village street, may be the sites of former buildings. On the W. the area is bounded by a broad ditch or hollow-way with an external bank, which follows the curve of the hilltop in a marked double bend. At its S. end the ditch is up to 2 m. deep and the bank is 2.5 m. high but further N., beyond the bend, the ditch is only 1.5 m. deep and the bank less than 1 m. high. To the N. again a later quarry and a track have disturbed the remains and the ditch, when it reappears, is once more 2 m. deep and is on a slightly different alignment. The whole feature is probably no more than an old back lane separating the inhabited area of the village from its fields to the W., but its form and size are unusual.

The size of these remains and their unknown origin have led to much speculation about their function. In the early 18th century Morton described them and claimed that they were 'a defence work against the Danes'. Other authorities have described the earthworks as a 'camp' or as a Civil War defensive site. All these theories can be discounted.

{3} Near the top of the East Farndon Hill are the remains of a military trench or trenches in the Hall Close and in Gallock's Close, west of the church. A defence against the Danes. There is a moat hill at a small distance from the earthworks and at the very top of Farndon Hill.

{4} "The ditch from A to B [see sketch plan - AO:59:399:5] is deep, and of considerable breadth, not much altered from its original state. From B to C the track of it is strongly marked; but the ditch not so perfect. From C to D the ditch is again much more open, but not so deep as from A to B. The Town street, a hollow way, several feet below the area of the camp, formed probably the South [south-east] ditch. The Eastern limits [probably north or north-east - the plan is not correctly orientated] are covered with buildings, so that the line in that part cannot be positively determined."

{5} "Farndon, East - A moot hill, moated, near the church, and connected with an earlier camp."

{7} East Farndon: Hall Close. Unclassified earthwork [see AO:59:399:4.] The manner of entrenching is unusual, a ditch having been dug and the ballast thrown outward. There is a slight fall to the east and the position would lend itself for an enclosed stronghold, but it seems to be a temporary defence against attack from the west. Traditionally it is believed to have been occupied by Charles I against the Parliamentarians - the site of the battle of Naseby is 3-3/4 miles S.S.W. The form of the earthwork compares with other possible Civil War works such as the one close to and south of the Union Poor House near Chelmsford [Essex 63 NW ]; Fairfax's Entrenchment at Bingley [SE 13 NW ]; and Sutton Scarsdale Park [Derby].

{8} NCC Aerial Photograph Nos.: SP7184/007 & 7185/001-3.

{9} The features published on O.S. 6", 1928-50, comprise an old hollow-way, with an enclosure-bank on its west side, forming a boundary of rig-and-furrow fields and of minor archaeological significance. The area between the hollow-way and the village has been partly built over and also extensively quarried - no evidence of depopulation was seen. The course of the hollow-way can be traced to a junction with old field roads, at SP 7155 8476, near the church, and continuing further south in the gardens of FARWOOD, a new house.

Its function appears to have been that of a simple 'BACK LANE' dividing the crofts from the fields - similar lanes survive in use in other villages in the area.

Mounds, at SP 7158 8476 and SP 7164 8454, were locally identified with the so-called 'moot' of Auths. 4 and 7 and there are local traditions of the mounds being the burial-place of the Naseby dead, etc. (b). All are quarry-mounds derived from nearby pits, of no archaeological significance. There is a general tendency in the area of Naseby to associate any prominent feature, natural or artificial, with the battle of 1645.

{10} Feature visible on A.P.s and appears to verify field report.

{?} Fieldname: Huw Close

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton (Series). SNN77381.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p. 30 (Book). SNN77326.

<3> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p. 546 (Book). SNN10113.

<4> Nichols J., 1798, The History and Antiquities of The County of Leicester (v.2 pt.2 The Hundred of Gartree), p. 701 & plan opp. P. 478 (Series). SNN59592.

<5> 1889, The Archaeological Journal (46), p. 209 (Journal). SNN13625.

<6> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p. 829 (Book). SNN1002.

<7> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire (Series). SNN100369.

<8> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<9> Woodhouse, W C, 1960, Field Investigators Comments, F1 WCW 23-MAR-1960 (Note). SNN113151.

<9b> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, MR. A. T. STATHAM, Owner, FARWOOD, East Farndon. (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<10> Aerial Photograph, 541/256 3488-9 (10.5.49) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<11> Historic England, East Farndon (Photograph) (Archive). SNN115487.

Record last edited

Feb 4 2025 8:44PM