Monument record 457/1/1 - Late Saxon/Early Medieval Hollow Way

Hollow way on Badby Down it is documented in an Anglo-Saxon Charter of 944 where it is described as the road from Fawsley to Badby. It consists of a narrow hollow way almost 200 metres long and 1.5 metres deep. At the south end it fades out and becomes a modern track leading down towards Fawsley Hall; at the north end it cuts through the steep natural scarp above the edge of Badby Wood and is then blocked by a low scarp which is a remnant of the pale of the deer park. No trace of the hollow way exists below the park pale as the area is a spring head and there is much marshy ground.It probably ran north across the east part of Badby Wood and entered the village near the church on or near the present footpath which is also deeply hollowed.

{1} Marks the old road from Fawsley to Badby.

{2} Hollow way on Badby Down, running along the southern parish boundary with Fawsley. The hollow way is referred to in an Anglo Saxon Charter of 944 (BCS 972) where described as 'the road from Fawsley to Badby'. It consists of a narrow hollow way almost 200m long and 1.5m deep. At the south end it fades out and becomes a modern track leading down towards Fawsley Hall. At the north end it cuts through the steep natural scarp above the edge of Badby Wood and then is blocked by a low scarp which is a remnant of the deer park pale. No trace of the hollow way exists below the park pale as the area is a spring head and there is much marshy ground. It probably ran northwards across the eastern part of Badby Wood and entered the village near the church on or near the present footpath, which is also deeply hollowed. Plan: Fig 21.
The hollow way is blocked by the deer park rampart created c.1245 AD (ref 430/0/1).

<1> De Gray Birch W. (Editor), 1883-1893, Cartularium Saxonicum, No.972 (unchecked) (Book). SNN9267.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.11 Site 5+part of 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<3> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 890796 (Archive). SNN112900.

Record last edited

Feb 29 2024 2:57PM