Monument record 1160/0/1 - Pre-castle Saxon occupation, Chalk Lane

Excavations undertaken in Chalk Lane between 1975-1978 lay mainly along the levelled castle inner bailey bank, but concentrated on pre-castle levels beneath. Early-middle Saxon settlement comprised sunken-featured buildings and some possible post-built structures. The late Saxon sequence comprised three phases: a substantial post-built structure with a cellar, a nearby sunken-featured building and other post-built structures and pits; a general soil build-up over much of the site; a smaller post-built structure, replacing the earlier building, with pits to the north and a yard to the west, with an ironpanned surface, and possible cultivation to the south. Industrial activity in the later phases of pre-Conquest use was evidenced by ferrous slag and hearth lining showing that iron smithing had been carried out nearby, along with silver and probably copper alloy working. Three St Edmund memorial coins were found, one of which came from the floor of the cellared structure, suggesting that this building belonged to the period of the Danish occupation in the later 9th to early 10th century, prior to its capture by Edward the Elder in 917.

{1} Excavation in Chalk Lane was undertaken between 1975 and 1978 by,the Northampton Development Corporation Archaeology Unit in advance of proposed redevelopment. A subsoil layer which overlay prehistoric features was dated to the early-middle Saxon period by a large quantity of pottery.

Cut into this layer were two separate sunken-featured buildings and possibly some postbuilt structures. One of the Grubenhaus was formed of a simple rectangular hollow with a single posthole at each end of structure. One posthole contained remains of half-sawn oak timber. C14 dating of wood to AD630+-70; also possible C5/6th stamped pottery. The other was much disturbed by later activity, but C14 dating of animal bone of AD440+-80 & AD500+-70 and possible C5/6th stamped pottery also recovered from fill.

In the subsequent phase, during the late Saxon period, activity seemed to intensify; the main structure appears to have been a six-post timber structure about 10m x 5m, with cellar at one end and an attached grubenhaus at other end & is dated to early C10th. Finds included St Edmund Memorial Penny AD900-930; also copper alloy stirrup & beam from balance & lead weights. Further sunken-featured buildings and possible post-built buildings were also present.

Subsequently there appears to have been a fairly clear division of the site into functional areas: hall, rubbish disposal area, (?) yard and cultivated land. The timber hall was more than 7m long x 4m wide and comprised close-set postholes. There was a circular clay-lined oven of uncertain function in south end of building. A black charcoal layer over building may point to destruction by fire.

A dark ironpan level overlaid by organic layer containing pottery & bone remains; absence of pits found elsewhere suggests that area was probably used as yard;

A series of pits with dark organic fills were also present, they were clearly used for rubbish disposal; finds included possible St Edmund Memorial penny; heckle with wooden handle & iron teeth & iron binding strip possibly from heckle; also iron padlock case fragment; copper alloy disc brooch with iron pin; copper alloy terminal with perforation & incised ornament; second C11th Anglo-Scandanavian terminal with zoomorphic design; also found was textile impression on late Saxon pot sherd;,

From the first phase of late Saxon occupation evidence of various industrial activities was found. 16-17 kg of ferrous slag and hearth lining was recovered but no forging hearth or similar structure was located. A few small pieces of coal may relate to metallurgical processes but it is possible that they were intrusive. Silver and probably copper alloy working was practised from the late Saxon period onwards.

{5} Early to middle Saxon occupation was represented by two sunken-featured buildings and a large scatter of pottery and in the late Saxon period there was a complex comprising building, yard area, pits and cultivated ground.

{8} A reassessment of radiocarbon dates using modern calibration curves.

<1> Williams J.H., 1981, Excavations in Chalk Lane, Northampton (Article). SNN2964.

<2> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1977, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1976, p.224 (unchecked) (Report). SNN723.

<3> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1978, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1977, p.185 (checked) (Journal). SNN2192.

<4> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1980, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1979, p.107 (checked) (Article). SNN56490.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.335 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<6> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1980, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1979, p.107 (checked) (Article). SNN56490.

<7> Chapman, A, 2021, Appendix 2: The Radiocarbon Dates, p. 64-8 (Appendix). SNN112910.

Record last edited

Mar 21 2025 9:30AM