Monument record 1160/194/1 - Possible Medieval settlement, Saxon Inn (now Moat House Hotel)

Walls and surfaces were said to have been observed in the sides of a basement excavated for a new hotel in 1971. However, an earlier report indicated that no medieval structures were observed during to quarrying in the 12th and 13th centuries.

{1} A watching brief on a large excavation 18m x 24m for the basement of a new hotel to the east of Horsemarket and within the Saxon town. Large areas had been quarried away during the 12th and 13th centuries. A few sherds of Stamford and St Neots Ware were found but most of the finds were of 12th to 14th century date. No structures of medieval date were found;

{2} At the Saxon Inn no excavation was possible in advance of construction, but the contractors allowed the sides of the basement trench to be inspected (c30m square). Walls, surfaces and pits were seen in all sections. The pottery collected included a range of wares similar to that recovered from Mayorhold with addition of Oxford type tripod pitchers. There was nothing earlier than C12th identified.

{3}Medieval pottery of mainly C12-14th date found;

<1> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1972, Archaeology in Northamptonshire, 1971 (Medieval), p. 44 (Article). SNN3540.

<2> MYNARD D.C., 1976, Excavations on the Mayorhold, Northampton, 1971, p. 137 (Article). SNN41216.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.389 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<4> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, M92 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

Record last edited

Feb 4 2025 12:45PM