Monument record 1623/1/2 - Early-Middle Saxon ditch, Brixworth

Substantial ditch originally interpreted as a Saxon monastic boundary.

{1} Feature recorded during building development in 1971; an early saxon wall. Possibly part of the original perimeter wall. Found in the north-west angle of the church between the tower and nave.

{2} Minor excavation in 1972 by P.Everson in the Vicarage garden. A ditch with Romano-British pottery, animal bone, glass, lead strips, lead roof tiles, floor tiles and early middle Saxon pot sherds. Ditch was dated to 710 AD (+-80) and is probably the boundary ditch for the Saxon monastery.

{7} Earlier the area was part of a Christian Saxon graveyard encountered to the east(?) around the vicarage itself. The spasmodic occurance of burials suggests the western limit was reached and the deep, pre-medieval north-south ditch on the western edge of the site appears to be the boundary ditch of similar Saxon date. A small amount of Saxon window glass, opus signum and possible Roman floor tiles are presumably scatter from the documented monastic complex. Finds included a considerable quantity of early Saxon hand-made gritty and grass-tempered sherds which have yet to be associated with any features, arguing for the proximity of an early and possibly pre-monastic village. Roman finds were negligible.

{8} Re-analysis of the results of the excavation, including of the pottery. The radiocarbon results are not considered 'robust' by modern standards. It is not possible to be precise about its date of construction- from the late 7th century to the early 9th.

<1> Brown, A E (ed), 1972, Bulletin of the Northamptonshire Federation of Archaeological Societies, p.39 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN58344.

<2> Brown, AE (Ed), 1973, Northamptonshire Archaeology, 8/17 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN14319.

<3> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, 10/164 (unchecked) (Report). SNN41605.

<4> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1972, CBA Group 9 Newsletter: South Midlands Archaeology (2), 2/18 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN10022.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.30/Site 33 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77381.

<6> Hall, D N, 1977, Excavations in Brixworth Churchyard, 1971, (unchecked) (Article). SNN59285.

<7> 1973, DOE Archaeological Excavations (Various Years), p.97 (checked) (Series). SNN45978.

<8> Parsons, D. & Sutherland, D. S., 2013, The Anglo-Saxon Church of All Saints, Brixworth, Northamptonshire: Survey, Excavation and Analysis, 1972-2010 (Book). SNN111198.

<9> Dyer C. (editor), 1973, Medieval Village Research Group (Vol.20/21), p.34 (Annual Report). SNN60223.

<10> EVERSON P., 1977, Excavations in the Vicarage Garden at Brixworth, p. 55-122 (Article). SNN57459.

Record last edited

Aug 1 2024 12:35PM