Monument record 94/1/3 - C12th to C14th Manor House, Quinton

Moated manorial complex which was probably the main manor of Quinton. The main moat was excavated from 1969 revealing early timber buildings which were replaced in the 12th century by buildings of stone with modifications taking place until the late 14th century. Foundations of a hall and solar and of kitchen ranges were identified.

{1} Excavation has uncovered stout limestone walls of good quality work some 2ft thick, belonging to a substantial manor house. Two or possibly three phases of construction have been identified, the earliest of which might have been terminated by a fire.

{2} A rough rectangular mound completely surrounded by a moat with in places an outer bank. Excavations have uncovered the foundations of a substantial manor house with two or possibly three phases of construction, the earliest of which may have been terminated by fire. A section across the moat shows it to have been wide and shallow with a max depth of 4ft; the fill is of one period and the moat was probably filled deliberately some time after the 17c. There is evidence for a road which approached the site from the south and APs have located buildings which might be associated in a field to the south known as Lower Holt. Finds include nails, half an ox shoe, a well preserved hunting arrow-head, iron slag and chippings of bronze. Sheep and pig predominate among animal bones, but cow and dog are also represented. Pottery is 13c./14c. drawn from a wide area. The roof had stone tiles, with green glazed ridge tiles with a top comb pattern. Situated at SP 77665412.

{3} A well-constructed stone-lined drain led to a relieving arch c.9ft wide in the north wall of the solar, which was standing c.4ft high. A garderobe tower was attached to the west wall of the solar, which had a rather crudely made arch in its north wall. The whole south end of the solar seems to have been robbed. Site plan.

{4} The first stone building probably dates from the mid C12th onwards.

{5} A piece of sculpture which promises to be quite unique was excavated. It comprises a whiskered monkey banging a drum and holding a key. A death mask is carved on one side of the monkey’s head. Also found nearby was a personal seal bearing an inscription and coat of arms; this might be the de Quentone coat of arms but verification is required. A large iron key was also found close by. In association with these were two almost complete jugs, one of which is probably from Brill (Oxfordshire). The other is a smaller baluster jug made from Potterspury type fabric. All items are provisionally dated to the C14th.

{6} The north end of the hall was excavated in 1975. During the C14th the west end of the hall was reconstructed at least three times; it ranged in date from the C13th to the late C14th. During one of the construction phases a depression at the west end was levelled to the main floor level. In this floor makeup was found a unique piece of sculpture made from local Northamptonshire ironstone. It depicts a monkey banging a tabor and holding a key. Carved on the side is a representation of a human skull. Also found in the same makeup were two personal seal matrices of Thomas de Longueville. The Longuevilles married into the Quentone family in about 1347. Included in the north-west corner of one of the reconstruction phases was a small stone-lined pit 2ft 6ins x 2ft, with one wall battered inwards.
Small finds recovered in 1975 included a trefoil decorated strap end, a small bronze buckle, two bronze seals (mentioned above), one of which was either tinned or silvered, and bone dice, all of which were found inside the north wall of the hall.

{7} During the early C14th the west end of the hall was reconstructed and the depression at the west end was levelled up to the main floor area. In this floor makeup was found a unique piece of sculpture made from local Northamptonshire ironstone. It depicts a monkey banging a tabor and holding a key. Carved on the side is a representation of a human skull. Also found in the same makeup were two personal seal matrices of Thomas de Longueville. The Longuevilles married into the Quentone family in about 1347.

{8} The first stone building was probably of the mid C12th and various reconstructions took place up until the late C14th. It was made of good quality limestone and roofed with stone slate and green-glazed ridge tiles. The foundations of a hall and solar were excavated. The hall had a guardrobe tower on its western side.

{9} C13th building of 4m span interpreted as a two story cross wing possibly a rebuild of an earlier structure.

{10} A probably unique sculpture was excavated, consisting of a whiskered monkey banging a drum and holding a key. A death mask is carved on one side of the monkey’s head. Also found nearby was a personal seal bearing an inscription and coat of arms; this might be the de Quentone coat of arms but verification is required. A large iron key was also found close by. In association with these were two almost complete jugs, one of which is probably from Brill (Oxfordshire). The other is a smaller baluster jug made from Potterspury type fabric. All items are provisionally dated to the C14th.

{11} (SP 77665412) Moat (LB)

{12} The moat island is 60% excavated and the moat itself surrounded by growing crop. See photographs. Published survey (25" 1966) correct. No roads or associated buildings could be identified either on the ground or on air photographs.

<1> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1970, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1969 (Medieval), 4/21 (checked) (Article). SNN30971.

<2> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1971, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1970, p.34 (checked) (Journal). SNN100525.

<3> 1971, Medieval Archaeology (15), p.164-5 (checked) (Journal). SNN4977.

<4> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1972, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1971, p.51-2 (checked) (Journal). SNN59984.

<5> Taylor R.M., 1975, Anglo-Saxon: Quinton Moated Manor, Northamptonshire, p.21 (checked) (Interim Note). SNN27947.

<6> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1976, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1975, p.200 (checked) (Journal). SNN169.

<7> Friendship-Taylor R.M., 1976, Quinton: The Moated Manor, p.21-2 (checked) (Interim Report). SNN27951.

<8> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.122-3 Site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<9> Woodfield P., 1981, The Larger Medieval Houses of Northamptonshire, p.153 (part checked) (Article). SNN23550.

<10> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, p.169-70 (checked) (Report). SNN41605.

<11> Ordnance Survey, 1955, 1950s/60s Ordnance Survey 6 Inch Mapping Series (SP44NE) (Map). SNN61128.

<12> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, 26-AUG-70 (Notes). SNN111540.

<13> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, RAF VAP CPE/UK/1926 3021-3 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<14> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1973, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1972, P. 23 (Journal). SNN8956.

<15> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1974, Archaeology In Northamptonshire 1973, P. 104 (Article). SNN9109.

<16> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, P. 169 (Report). SNN41605.

<17> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1976, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1975, P. 200 (Journal). SNN169.

<18> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1974, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (4), P. 19 (Newsletter). SNN17341.

<19> Hall, D N, 1975, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (5), P.21 (Journal). SNN9947.

<20> Rowley, R.T. & Fowler, W.J. (Ed.), 1976, CBA Group 9 Newsletter, P. 21 (Journal). SNN14378.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:21PM