Monument record 184/1/1 - Possible Bronze Age barrow with inserted early Saxon burials

Possible Bronze Age barrow containing intrusive Early Medieval inhumations. At least seven skeletons were found in the large mound prior to 1830.

{1} Accurate location description. A large mound of earth and stones in Sea-bridge Close, about 600 yds NW from the church of Thenford and a little W of the old water mill, where great quantities of human bones, and many earthen urns, or drinking cups, have been found. The iron blade of a knife, 5" long, was found by the side of a skeleton.

{2} "Many earthen urns or drinking cups". The pot illustrated in Beesley ({1} above) is certainly an AS accessory vessel. The site is an "inhumation cemetery, secondary in barrow." (Meaney sites the cemetery at SP 527435. This is completely at variance with the detailed siting from Beesley, see above. His description puts the site at SP 514412, "W of the old water mill" fitting in with a group of buildings shown at SP 51674187 on OS 25" of 1895)

{3} Burial mound recognised on aerial photographs NCCAP:SP5141/001-3. Incorrect grid reference in ref {2}.

{4} Some labourers discovered two skeletons at the upper end of the stonepit, lying E to W, with a small drinking cup near them. On exploring some of the ground in a southerly direction, Baker found the remains of 5 skeletons disposed in 3 distinct tiers; one in each of the first two tiers, and 3 about one yard distant from each other in the lower tier.

{5} Excavated pre-1830. At least seven skeletons arranged in three tiers within large mound of earth and stone. The burials were probably secondary to the mound. Only one small blackware vessel survives and an iron knife. The site was destroyed by quarrying.

{6} The small urn and iron knife are now preserved at Northampton.

{8} Burial mound recognised on aerial photographs NCCAP:SP5141/001-3. Fieldname: Seabridge Close.

{9} At precisely the position described in Beesley is a very extensive irregular mound which has been avoided by the plough.

The area encircling the indicated site is known locally as 'Seabridge'. There is extensive surface quarrying here and no traces of a mound were seen.

<1> Beesley J., 1841, History of Banbury, p.31 (unchecked) (Book). SNN280.

<2> Meaney A.L., 1964, Gazetteer of Early Anglo-Saxon Burial Sites, p.196 (unchecked) (Gazetteer). SNN10289.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP54SW3 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.717 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.145/Site 9 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<6> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.254 (Series). SNN100368.

<7> MYRES J.N.L., 1977, A Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Pottery of The Pagan Period (Both Vols), 811 (unchecked) (Book). SNN55363.

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

<9> Aerial Photograph, RAF 106G/UK/1361. 4350,1,2. 3.4.46 (Photographs). SNN112974.

<9> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 14-APR-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:24PM