Monument record 3738/1 - Possible late Anglo-Saxon burh, Earls Barton

The earthwork mound known as Berry, or Bury, Mount in Earls Barton is thought to have originally been a late Saxon ringwork providing a defence around a Saxon manor house. The earthwork is also located very close to a church with a very rare 10th-century Saxon tower. No intrusive excavation of the ringwork has been undertaken, although traces of an 'old moat' were said to have been found in 1923 beneath the extreme eastern end of the 12th century chancel. A possible continuation of the ringwork ditch was identified immediately to the south-east in 1997 and pottery suggested a late Saxon date. Archaeological investigation undertaken in 2024 ahead of construction of a teaching block at Earls Barton Primary School revealed part of the defensive perimeter of a previously unknown late Saxon burh. Subsquent analysis of historic aerial photograph and topographic evidence indicates the possible alignment of the burh defences. The origin of the burh defences is till open to debate but the date range probably falls between the early 10th and early 11th centuries.

{1, 2} Part of the defensive perimeter of a previously unknown late Saxon burh (fortified settlement) was discovered in 2024 at the village Primary School. Analysis of earlier interventions suggest the survival of a ditch to the south-west of Berry Mount {3}. The possible spatial extent of the burh was considered likely to incorporate the four roads that converge on the Green; they are likely to have represented the cardinal streets of the burh. Analysis of aerial photographs include a low altitude photograph taken in 1931 which shows substantial parallel and ditched linear earthworks to the west side of West Street on the predicted line of the defences {4}. Former earthworks were also noted at the site of the Primary School Upper Playground, on an oblique aerial photograph taken in 1952 {5}. At the postulated locations of former gateways, two places coincide with irregularities on the 18th century map copy {6}- either as a narrowing of the road, as at High Street and West Street, or as a property boundary jutting from the roadside, as at West Street and Broad Street, in addition to which, three of the suspected locations coincide with conspicuous 'bumps' crossing the road; West Street, High Street and Station Road.

Dating the origin of the burh remains elusive. Radiocarbon dating of a carbonised cereal grain from a palisade post-setting produced a calibrated date-range of 990-1046 (at 90.1% probability). Although confirming that the defences belong to the late Anglo-Saxon era, it may relate to construction, disuse or even refurbishment of the defences.

<1> Martin Wilson, 2025, Archaeological Investigation at Earls Barton Primary School, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN116895.

<2> Martin Wilson, 2026, Late Anglo-Saxon Defences at Earls Barton Primary School, Northamptonshire: Results of Radiocarbon Dating & Review of the Archaeological Evidence (Report). SNN117190.

<3> Hopkinson D., 1997, An Archaeological Evaluation At Saxon Lodge, High Street, Earls Barton, Northampton (Report). SNN100009.

<4> General reference for websites, Major Allen Archive [https://legacy.ashmolean.org/collections/?mu=422]; Allen Image Number: AA0899 (Website). SNN116607.

<5> Historic England, Britain From Above, EAW043377, accessed 14/10/2026 (Website). SNN112023.

<6> 1838, Enclosure Map of Earls Barton (Map). SNN55304.

Record last edited

Oct 14 2026 3:38PM