Monument record 4 - Kings Sutton

{1} In late medieval times the parish contained a number of discrete settlements: Kings Sutton itself, Upper Astrop and Lower Astrop, Great Purston, Little Purston, and Walton. Each had its own associated land unit apart from Upper and Lower Astrop which shared one.

{3}Source also relates to initial summary text.

{4} Detailed study of the settlement was not pursued as part of the EUS in the light of the apparently poor documentary record for the settlement and lack of any significant archaeological evidence or investigations of the settlement.
Kings Sutton lies immediately adjacent to a probable Roman small town site. It was possibly a provincial capital of the Mercian kingdom and has specific important Middle Saxon royal associations. It was a major royal estate centre and old minster in 1086 and had a market at that time. It is unclear whether the market continued to function through to the 13th century but it was undoubtedly overshadowed rapidly in the 12th century with the growth of Banbury and the foundation of the major new town at Brackley. In 1252 a Monday market and a fair on the vigil, feast and morrow of St. James the Apostle were granted to Stephen Longspe. This was confirmed by quo warranto writ of 1330 although there appears to be no income from the market or fair recorded in the extent of 1331-2. It must be assumed that, if not already decayed, the market failed in the recession of the second half of the 14th century. The market was never re-founded, but in the mid 17th century a spa was established in the dependent hamlet of Astrop.

{6} The possible implications of the complex relationship between Newbottle, King's Sutton and Farthinghoe, are discussed in source {2}.

{9} Possibly not taken forward to Stage 2 survey and assessment.

{10} Kings Sutton is thought to have been an important centre during the Saxon period and was only one of three towns in the county to have a market at Domesday. It was, however, eclipsed by Banbury and Brackley during the medieval period. There was a brief renaissance during the 17th century when a medicinal spring was discovered at Astrop. A second spring was also discovered within the site in the mid 18th century and was known as Bog Spring.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.93 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Brown F.M.; Taylor C.C., 1978, Settlement and Land Use in Northamptonshire: A Comparison Between the Iron Age and the Middle Ages, pp.77-89 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102466.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP43NE7 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Overview, Appendix 2 (unchecked) (Report). SNN103118.

<5> Hayter D., 2003, King's Sutton: An Early Anglo-Saxon Estate?, p.7-21 (unchecked) (Article). SNN103611.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.103 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<7> 1805, Kings Sutton Enclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN109682.

<8> 1845, Kings Sutton Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN69075.

<10> Walker C., 2013, Archaeological Desk-Based Heritage Assessment of Land at Wales Street, Kings Sutton, Northamptonshire, (part checked) (Report). SNN109864.

Record last edited

Jun 25 2021 12:06PM