Monument record 1160/198/2 - Stone wells, Gold Street

Archaeological investigation undertaken during building development after the discovery of stone wells. Six wells were identified, five were around 4m deep and the sixth was over 8m deep. All were located towards the rear of the plot. The upper parts of the shafts were lined with ironstone and the lower parts cut through the bedrock. At the base of each well, medieval deposits were recovered; pottery comprised mainly post-Conquest wares dating between c1100-1600 . The site was part of the Goat Inn from at least the 16th or 17th centuries until c1858.

{1}6 wells & C12th-C16th pot sherds & jetton & other material;

{3}6 stone wells & 2 pits excavated; several important groups of pottery recovered ranging from C12th-C16th;

{5}Wells located to rear of property; from C16th to 1858 area was occupied by Goat Inn;

{2}6 stone wells & 2 pits producing pottery of C12th-C16th date;

{4}Number of wells revealed; well 1 opened to depth of 4m; upper section of shaft 0.76m wide & lined with ironstone blocks & lower part being 1.88m wide cut into bedrock; 0.5m silt in bottom containing medieval sherds; 4 other wells appeared to be of similar depth & construction; well 6 was over 8m deep; all wells located towards rear half of property; circa 350 sherds of pottery recovered & majority unstratified; general date range of AD 1100-1600; few Stamford ware jug fragments & post medieval sherds; represented were cooking pots & jugs from Lyveden-Stanion or Olney Hyde kilns; also cooking pots & bowls & jugs from Potterspury or Yardley Gobion kilns; small number of regional imports throught to be from West Midlands or Bedfordshire or Brill; later wares include Surrey White & sherds of tudor date as well as Cistercian ware & decorated stoneware jug from Cologne; 3 medieval jugs found are illustrated & more detailed in report; other finds included jetton of AD 1550-1574; leather clump repair attached to fore-part of sole of same date as jetton; tanged & rivetted iron object; rim or base from pale green glass vessel; bronze attachement possibly from harness pendant; fragments of glazed roof tile; decorated bone comb-case written up in St Peter's Street report;

{6}List of donations to Northampton Museum includes:D103/1970Broken medieval green-glazed jug;D130/1970Medieval & post medieval pottery; 2 clay pipes; stone roof tiles; 12 C19th mineral water bottles or fragments of; C19th medicine bottle; 3 C19th stoppers;

{7} The late Saxon comb case is illustrated and discussed. Unusual because it has a metal blade or strike a light fixed on the side opposite the comb slot.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.388 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> MYNARD D.C. & MOORE R., 1971, NORTHAMPTON GOLD STREET, 31 (Notes). SNN379.

<3> MYNARD D.C., 1972, NORTHAMPTON GOLD STREET, 45 (Note). SNN436.

<4> MCCARTHY M.R., 1977, Medieval Finds From Gold Street, Northampton, 196-8 (Article). SNN3011.

<5> Shaw M.; Williams J., 1971-1981, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Record Cards, M1 (checked) (Index). SNN133.

<6> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, M1 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

<7> Williams J.H., 1979, St Peter's Street, Northampton: Excavations 1973-1976, p. 309-310; Fig 136, WB33 (Report). SNN342.

Record last edited

Jan 23 2026 11:12AM