Monument record 683/0/1 - Mass Grave, Possibly Following The Battle of Naseby

In 1842, Edward Fitzgerald dug into a mound in an attempt to locate the centre of the civil war battlefield. Numerous skeletons were found in a communal grave and though the site is just to the west of the battlefield there is no reason to doubt that this is a grave connected with the battle.

{1} Local tradition that the dead of Naseby were buried in a communal grave.

{2} Excavated 22nd September 1842.

{3} probable mass grave related to Naseby Battle 1645. Shallow sccop 50m in diamter.

{4} This grave was opened by Edward Fitzgerald on September 22, 1842, and skeletal remains found; in his attempt to locate the centre of the battlefield at Naseby on behalf of Thomas Carlyle (Fitzgerald's family owned most of the field at the time of the battle).
The site can only be identified approximately from charts made by Fitzgerald and from his correspondence with Carlyle, but it does support the OS siting. (See SP 68 SE 9 Battle of Naseby)

{5} The grave is situated on a northern facing slope and is visible as a shallow scooping, the central rise is insignificant.

<1> MASTIN J., 1792, History and Antiquities of Naseby, 68 (Book). SNN46755.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77381.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP68SE5 (part checked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Letters (A. McK. Terhune, May & June, 1967). (Oral Report). SNN111456.

<5> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 20-JAN-69 (Note). SNN111452.

Record last edited

Oct 17 2022 12:47PM