Monument record 1668/2 - Medieval/post-medieval settlement remains, Grafton Regis

Earthworks of medieval/post-medieval closes

{1} Medieval/post-medieval earthworks; small paddocks along the north side of the road; probably contain house sites; the back boundary of closes continued north-west by massive bank up to 1m high; suggests further houses and gardens beneath present buildings;

{3} Within the triangular area formed by the two branch roads and the main Northampton road there is a more extensive area of earthworks. These are in a poor state of preservation, but several small rectangular embanked closes can be identified, surrounding a much larger enclosure which in turn has an irregular embanked area within it. The earthworks may be the site of one of the medieval manor houses of Grafton Regis and the whole of this S.W. part of the village is perhaps an addition to an earlier single-street settlement near the church.

{2} In the triangular area between the two roads leading towards the church is a series of house platforms, some battered. No houses were shown in the central area of the triangle on the early map and only one cottage right at the apex of the triangle of land. Behind the house platforms are the irregular earthworks of quarrying. There is no evidence of quarrying here on the early map. It is therefore likely that the quarries are relatively late in date and were opened up when the land boundary still functioned as such. The objective of the quarries would be the Blisworth limestone which caps the ridge on which Grafton Regis stands.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.60/Site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> BROWN A.E., 1985, Field Survey at Grafton Regis, p.1 (checked) (Report). SNN1787.

<3> BROWN A.E., Field Survey at Grafton Regis: A Village Plan Explained?, (unchecked) (Article). SNN75631.

<4> c.1700?, Grafton Regis Map (Undated), (unchecked) (Map). SNN108119.

<6> 1985, UNPUBLISHED REPORT, (unchecked) (Report). SNN57455.

Record last edited

Sep 3 2024 1:10PM