Monument record 1160/21/2 - St. Mary's Churchyard

In 1669 the churchyard of St Mary lay immediately south of tenements which later became Doddridge Church. Northern extent of the churchyard not known

{1} Church of St Mary by Castle; in 1669 churchyard of St Mary lay immediately south of tenements which later became Dodderidge Church;

{2} Test pits and later watching brief were undertaken. The northern area of the site is within the cemetery of St Mary's Church. Excavation located a total of 39 burials, of which thirteen were excavated as they were too fragile to be left in situ or lay above or on the new formation level of the car park. Six of the inhumations were interred in coffins, though only mineralised wood and coffin fittings survived. A single skeleton was exposed which had been subject to an autopsy, evidenced by the sawing round of the top of the cranium. A single tomb or vault was exposed at the western end of the site. Built in brick it was rectangular with a slightly waisted shape. The inside of the structure had been backfilled which suggests that it may not be a tomb, but rather the foundation for an above ground grave marker. The bricks post-dated 1800. Ceramic and coin dating from the recorded burials is generally late 18th to early 19th century.
[Burials therefore associated with Doddridge Chapel rather than St Mary's]

{4} Disarticulated human remains were identified.

<1> Gasquoine, 1896, Castle Hill Church, p.91 (Note). SNN2213.

<2> Harward C., 2002, Sol Central car park, Doddridge Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire; An archaeological post excavation assessment (Report). SNN102365.

<3> Museum of London Archaeology Service, 2005, Saxon, medieval and post-medieval settlement at Sol Central, Marefair, Northampton (Full Report). SNN105717.

<4> Anna Rojek, 2023, Archaeological hand dug test pits and monitoring of machine dug pits At Chalk Lane and Doddridge Car Parks Northampton, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN115881.

<5> Wilson T., 2002, Proposed car park, Sol Central (west of Doddridge Street), Northampton (Report). SNN102119.

Record last edited

Jun 27 2025 11:43AM