Monument record 2416/0/9 - Late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval occupation, St Osyth's Lane

Archaeological evaluation and subsequent excavation prior to the construction of a Co-op foodstore found evidence of occupation beginning in the late Saxon period. There was evidence of iron working being undertaken close to the site in the Saxo-Norman period. A major boundary of medieval date parallel to St Osyth's Lane suggests that the lane maintains its medieval course and perhaps originated on its present line in Saxo-Norman period. The excavation suggests that the plot was peripheral to the main area of settlement until the 18th century

{1} Archaeological evaluation was undertaken in 1992 as part of proposals for the development of a new Co-Op food store on the site of a former car park and small factory. Three trenches were excavated and evidence of medieval activity, principally dating to the 11th to 13th centuries was found in each of them. The medieval features in two of the trenches had been extensively disturbed by later activity. The ditches found in the trenches lay at an acute angle to the current course of St Osyth's Lane, suggesting that its course may be a later development.

{4}In the charter of c.963 the bounds of Oundle begin at Scyta’s stream (Scytan-lacu). This has been identified close to the south end of St.Osyth’s Lane, east of Basford. The name is applied in 1565 to the whole of the Great Field to the south east of the town.

Decayed or empty tenements were mainly at the western edge of the town, in Chapel End and the adjacent area and just one at the south end of St Sythe’s lane.

{5} Archaeological excavation in advance of the construction of the new Co-Op foodstore was undertaken to the west of the earlier evaluation trenches. A small amount of prehistoric flint and a single sherd of Roman pottery were found. The site appears to have initially been occupied in the late Saxon period with some indications that the plot was aligned parallel to and alongside St Osyth's Lane, which suggest that it originated at that time and has maintained its alignment since; a major boundary of medieval date lay parallel to st Osyth's Lane, with some evidence of a similarly aligned Saxo-Norman ditch. There is evidence of iron smelting being undertaken in the vicinity during the Saxo-Norman period, but probably not on the site itself. From the Saxo-Norman period onwards drainage gullies were cut across the site to run down the slope, at an acute angle to St Osyth's Lane.

The plot seemed to have remained on the periphery of the main settlement into the medieval period when there are much stronger indications of property blocks alogside the highway. A possible timber structure lay within the site with an associated area of hardstanding. The other features of this period probably functioned as drainage gullies and refuse pits. However, much of the site appears to have lain within an area of grassland or meadow through the medieval and post-medieval periods. Reoccupation and development occurred from the 18th-century onwards with the construction of houses along the lane frontage with the site located within the former gardens and yards.

Maps dating to the 18th and 19th century depict housing along St Osyth's Lane, fronting the area of the development site. A limestone toilet and culvert would appear to be associated with these properties.

<1> Ford, S., 1992, St. Osyth's Lane, Oundle, Northamptonshire: An Archaeological Evaluation, 1992, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN1384.

<2> Kidd, S., 1992, St. Osyth's Lane, Oundle: Archaeological Assessment, (checked) (Document). SNN56120.

<3> Ford S, 1993-4, Oundle, St Osyth's Lane, P189 (Note). SNN104212.

<4> Foard G.; Ballinger J.;, 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Oundle, Section 3.2.2.1, 3.4.5 (Report). SNN102637.

<5> Rayner T., 2001, Archaeological excavation of land to the rear of the co-op, 5 St Osyth's Lane, Oundle, Northamptonsh, p.6 (checked) (Report). SNN102140.

Record last edited

Oct 2 2019 11:49AM