Monument record 590/1/1 - Possible medieval manor house, Little Preston

Traditionally the site of the manor house of Little Preston. The extant earthworks suggest the site may once have been fortified. The manor house, and adjoining chapel, is specifically mentioned in 1235. The site has been much damaged by later activity.

{4} Manor House or Castle Site (SP 589543), stands on the edge of a N.-facing promontory of Northampton Sand, at 165 m above OD. To the N and W. the ground falls steeply across Upper Lias Clay which has slipped down the hillside to produce large uneven mounds and terraces The field name for the area is Great Hill Ground. The manor house is specifically mentioned in 1235 when the then lord, William De Montacute, had a chapel adjoining his house at Little Preston. The chapel is supposed to have been in a close known as Graves Piece in the 18th or 19th century, but its location is now forgotten No other details are known of the manor's history; the present North Farm to the SW., partly a 17th-century structure, may be its sucessor. The site has been much damaged by later activity and now consists of little more than a U-shaped ditch up to 2m. deep curving round the spur. There is no inner bank but the ditch is of defensive proportions.

{6} Watching brief undertaken in May 1990 during the construction of a new access track. A small area of cobbles was revealed beneath the topsoil. The cobbles in turn overlay fragments of ironstone which in turn overly the natural clay. There was no dating evidence. The stones may be part of a paved surface connected with the manorial buildings; modern dumping was noted in part of the moat;

{8} A small area of disturbance at the indicated site suggests grassed over foundations but the exact site does not seem to be known locally. The banks are old roadways.

{9} No change to field report of 7.5.70.

{10} Earthworks (large banks) are visible at SP 58845425 though the area has been disturbed by quarrying).

<1> 1838, Tithe Map of Preston Capes, (unchecked) (Map). SNN15401.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.80-81 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<3> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.429-30; (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77381.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP55SE3 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<6> Cadman G, 1990, Little Preston: Site visit 3/5/90 (Note). SNN111520.

<7> CADMAN G.E., 1990, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Note). SNN50203.

<8> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 07-MAY-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<9> Allanson, C D, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, F2 CDA 29-OCT-76 (Notes). SNN112955.

<10> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, (RAF CPE/UK/1926 5052-3 16-JAN-47) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<11> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, (RAF CPE/UK/1994 2159-60) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<12> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889739 (Archive). SNN112900.

Record last edited

Feb 15 2024 2:05PM