Monument record 3434/0/1 - Probable Medieval/Post Medieval Settlement Closes

Earthworks of former settlement lie on the east side of the village and suggest that the village was of rectangular form at some time.

{1} Settlement remains (SP 801597 and 802595) formerly part of Little Houghton, lie on the E side of the village S of Meadow Lane, and N of the Bedford Road. Both areas have a series of rectangular closes, bounded by low scarps up to 1.5 m. high, indicating possible former occupation. Of more significance are the slight traces of a possible hollow-way which, though much damaged suggest that Meadow Lane once ran on SW from the present right-angle bend (at SP 80185975) as far as the parish boundary with Great Houghton. If this was the case then the village at some time has a neat rectangular form bounded by Church Street on the E, Bedford Road on the S, Meadow Lane on the N and the parish boundary on the W with the church and manor house [SP 85 NW 2] in the SE corner. Both areas were devoid of building in 1835.

{3} No evidence of the earthworks was identified during archaeological investigation of the site prior to development. The only below-ground features dated to the Iron Age/Roman period.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.89/Site 30 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Morris, S., Walford, J., 2008, Geophysical survey and archaeological excavation on land off the Beford Road, Little Houghton, Northamptonshire, May 2008 (Report). SNN106651.

<3> Leigh, D., 2016, A strip, map and sample investigation at 23 Bedford Road, Little Houghton Northamptonshire October 2012 (Report). SNN110865.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 42 (Journal). SNN111362.

<5> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, RAF VAP CPE/UK/1926, 4015-6 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<6> 1835, Northants Record Office Little Houghton Estate Map 1835 (Map). SNN116456.

Record last edited

Jul 2 2024 11:55AM