Monument record 1160/18/1 - St Edmund's Churchyard

Human burials found at the eastern end of Abington Square in the early 20th century were considered likely to be from the medieval churchyard of St Edmund's Church. A single articulated inhumation was discovered under the footpath on the south side of the island in 2007. Recent redevelopment of the Orient House site has confirmed the presence of the churchyard and enabled further refinement of its location. Post-medieval and modern development had disturbed the later burials (probably from the 14th century onwards) but the earliest burials, cut into the natural geology, had survived and the graves of over 200 individuals were estimated to survive within the development area. Given the locations that burials have been found, it is likely that the churchyard encompassed much of the island formed by Abington Square and the Wellingborough and Kettering Roads.

{1} Possible medieval human remains were found during house demolition on Wellingborough Road at point known in earlier days as St Edmund's End;

{3} Widening of road took place circa 1928-30; many burials were observed but no coffins; the burials were found in the area where a row of cottages had recently been demolished, along with the Abington Square Cafe. The houses were just to the east of the cafe on the north side of the Wellingborough Road. A ring was recovered from one burial; location map included. The bones were apparently taken away and no public mention of the find was ever made.

{4} Medieval church of St Edmund stood on the site of (present) Abington Square Café; numerous human bones found whilst digging foundations of this building in 1911.

{5} Single articulated skeleton lying east-west 300mm below the modern ground surface. Some additional disarticulated material also evident. The location was beneath the footpath to Abington Square/Wellingborough Road (north side of street). They were very close to the kerb. One might see the churchyard occupying the entirety of the triangular island between the war memorial and the Kettering and Wellingborough Roads.

{7} A phased archaeological investigation was undertaken during the redevelopment of 30-32 Kettering Road. There were a number of cellars on the Kettering Road frontage which had destroyed any archaeological remains. However, behind the frontage, burials were found to survive across most of the site. Later burials had been disturbed by post-medieval and modern development, but the earliest burials cut into natural geology had survived. It is considered likely that these dated to the 11th-12th centuries. Over 200 burials were likely to survive within the development footprint so the foundation design was altered to allow for piled foundations and raised ground beams therefore preserving the burials in situ. In the event, 13 burials were excavated where they would have been damaged by the piles; once analysed the remains were reburied on site. The burials comprised adult men and women mostly over the age of 45 with a single adolescent. Only a small number of finds were recovered. The pottery comprised a small and abraded assemblage of 12th-13th century date. Small finds included a 14th century jetton, a shroud pin and two small copper alloy strips of metal (possibly part of buckled girdles or a belt fixing known to be used in ecclesiatical burial settings); the later date of these objects may indicate they were intrusive from later disturbance.

<1> 1934, Journal of Northants Natural History Society and Field Club, p.173 (checked) (Article). SNN272.

<2> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN559.

<3> King P I, 1985, Correspondence, (checked) (Letter). SNN503.

<4> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1911, History of The Church of St Giles, Northampton, p.287 (unchecked) (Book). SNN2828.

<5> Soden I., 2007, Email: Workmen Dig Up Human Bones, (checked) (Correspondence). SNN105793.

<6> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1911, History of the Church of St Giles, Northampton, p. 266 (Book). SNN2827.

<7> Phillips, D, 2024, Archaeological Report: St Edmunds Cemetery Excavation, Orient House, Northampton (Draft) (Report). SNN116749.

Record last edited

May 8 2025 8:40PM