Monument record 727/19/1 - Possible Medieval/Post Medieval Building & Inhumations

A number of inhumations were discovered during flood alleviation work in 1978. Formerly known as 'Pest House Field'. Possibly the burial ground for St Leonard's Hospital

{1} Features seen in September 1978 during a flood scheme on Silverstone Brook.

{2} Work on flood relief on the Silverstone Brook, to the west of Towcester resulted in the exposure of at least six skeletons. Four had been lifted and boxed by the workmen, but two, comparatively undamaged were kept for
members of South Northants Archaeological Society to examine. At least 6 skeletons, all orientated roughly east - west. Some had traces of wood surviving in the waterlogged clay and gravel. 1 skeleton was closely surrounded by large water-worn pebbles. No trace of grave goods or other dateable material was found. A suggestion that they came from the Poor Law Institution in Brackley Road, to the north of the
brook, was discounted, but research at the Northamptonshire Record Office at Delapre Abbey showed that there had been a Leper Hospital with the Chapel of St Leonard at the North Bridge in the reign of King John, as recorded by Bridges, who mentions that in an undated deed in that reign `Robert, son of Roger Forester conveyed to Laurence, son of Simon Ters an acre of land in the South Field of Tovecestr between the lands of Baldwin and the
Lepers' Hospital of St Leonard'. Baldwin appears in Luffield Abbey documents in 1225.
There is a further reference to the Hospital of St Leonard in 1366, placing it at the Northbrughge or Spital Bridge, but there is no mention of it in Archdeacon Sponne's bequests in 1447.
The apparent contradiction between North Bridge and South Field was solved by a field name map of about 1923 which showed a small field as `Pest House Field' on the south side of the Silverstone Brook just where the skeletons were found. This leaves us with a fairly strong presumption that Pest House Field was the burial ground for St Leonard's Hospital

{3} 2 graves survived in-situ in an area 31m across, along with wooden coffin(s); a possible 9-10 other burials were destroyed.

{4} Article links the burials to the site of the medieval leper hospital.

{2} The discussion of St. Leonard's Hospital above {2} is probably incorrect as a pest house stood in this area in the 18th century (cf SMR No. 1152/1).

<1> Hastings, S., Oral Report to SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN50572.

<2> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1979, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1978, 14/109 (checked) (Article). SNN45225.

<3> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1983, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1982, 18/? (unchecked) (Article). SNN24591.

<4> 1978, TOWCESTER & BRACKLEY ADVERTISER, (unchecked) (Note). SNN60022.

<5> FOARD G.R., 1980, Oral Report to SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN51106.

Record last edited

Aug 17 2023 12:04PM