Monument record 48/0/1 - Probable Prehistoric Burial, Aynho Park

Possible crouched inhumation in a cist found in Aynho Park.

{1} "Crossing the turnpike to Buckingham its (the Portway) course is continued southward till it quits the county at Souldern, but it has been partially levelled and reduced to a narrow pathway, walled in, which intersects Mr Cartwright's park (Aynho Park, centred 518332). In levelling the ground for this alteration the workmen disinterrred a skeleton, with the legs gathered up and inclosed in four stone slabs placed at right angles".

{2} Recorded as "? Inhumation Burial".

{4} Possible prehistoric burial found in the early C19th in Aynho Park, east of the village. Baker records the discovery of a crouched inhumation in a stone cist when the ancient trackway known as The Port Way was being levelled. It has been suggested that this may have been a Saxon burial, but a prehistoric origin is more likely.

{5} Grid reference is centred on Aynho Park

{6} Possibly a Neolithic site?

{8} Classification doubtful (authy 2). The burial was found adjacent to a Romanised ridgeway and is more probably 'Beaker plus' than post-Roman.

<1> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.558 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<2> Meaney A.L., 1964, Gazetteer of Early Anglo-Saxon Burial Sites, p.186 (unchecked) (Gazetteer). SNN10289.

<3> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.139 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.12 site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP53SW2 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<6> George, T J, Prehistoric Northamptonshire Site List, Drawer 8 (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN59915.

<7> Beesley J., 1841, History of Banbury, p. 37 (Book). SNN280.

<8> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 09-FEB-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:20PM