Monument record 1160/224/1 - Probable middle Saxon settlement, Black Lion Hill

Excavation on Black Lion Hill in 1982 identified multi-period activity. The earliest evidence was of a probable early-middle Saxon timber building and boundary ditch. The trenches for the building closely resembled those of the timber halls to the east of St Peter's Church. [see 1160/224/2 for later phases]

{2}Archaeological excavation between St Peter's Street and Marefair. The earliest feature was a trench of V-shape section with flattened bottom traced for 5m running east-west. A C14 date from animal bone of AD 850 +-80 was obtained. Possible Saxon boundary ditch. Two short lengths of trench meet to form T-junction; eight sherds early-middle Saxon pottery recovered; also sample of animal bone yielded C14 date of AD 700 +-70; trenches resemble those of post-in-trench structures to east of st Peter's Church.

{3} On the Marefair frontage a V-shaped gully, as yet undated, was traced for a distance of 5 m., running roughly parallel to Marefair. The gully was overlaid by a series of late Saxon pits. Towards the S. of the site a possible post-in-trench building of early or middle Saxon date was succeeded by late Saxon timber post-hole buildings.

{5} Recalibration of the two radiocarbon dates using modern calibration curves.

<1> SHAW M., 1982, Black Lion Hill, Northampton, 1982, (unchecked) (Interim Report). SNN2092.

<2> SHAW M., 1985, Excavations on a Saxon and Medieval Site at Black Lion Hill, Northampton, p118 (Article). SNN2121.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.391/46 (Series). SNN77383.

<4> Jordan, D, Hedges, R, Otlet, R, Switsur, R and Walker, J, 1994, Radiocarbon Dates from samples funded by English Heritage between 1981 and 1988, p. 213-4 (Monograph). SNN112643.

<5> Chapman, A, 2021, Appendix 2: The Radiocarbon Dates, p. 64-8 (Appendix). SNN112910.

Record last edited

Feb 11 2026 1:13PM