Monument record 5020/1/0 - Unstratified Medieval Finds Relating to The Battle of Northampton

A small number of finds that may relate to the Battle of Northampton including a lead cannon ball found near Eagle Drive.

{1} Documentary, Battle of Northampton 10 July 1460. Fought between the Yorkists and the Lancastarians in the meadows between the Nene and Delapre Abbey. The Yorkists won and the slain were buried in Delapre Abbey church or the churchyard to the east.

{6} Discussion; plan.

{7} Lead shot diameter 45mm, weight 460g found in the late 1970's. Probably connected with the Battle of Northampton 1460 at which a small cannon known as a Falcon which took a lead shot weighing 1lb, may have been used. Find was given to Northampton Museum (E0604).

{9} An annular brooch found in the subsoil layer during an archaeological assessment of unauthorised groundworks at Delapre Golf Course was dated to the 14th century. It could conceivably have been carefully curated and subsequently lost at the Battle of Northampton.

{11} Find of cannon ball at Eagle Drive. The ball was actually found some 25 years ago by the late Stuart Allwork, but had been believed lost until last year when his son managed to find the lost artefact. Since its rediscovery the cannon ball has been subjected to detailed analysis by Dr Glenn Foard, one of the UK’s leading experts on medieval artillery and noted battlefield archaeologist from Huddersfield University.

The 50-60mm diameter ball was found in an area now known as Delapré Park but was originally farmland in the area of Eagle Drive, Northampton, and is part of the English Heritage registered battlefield site. The Eagle Drive Cannon Ball itself has suffered massive impact damage from at least two bounces, and one gouge still contains small fragments of Northampton Sand and Ironstone. A testimony to the immense forces in play as the shot ricocheted across the battlefield.
Other damage may have been caused by the cannon ball hitting a tree.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP75NE30 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76SE40 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> SERJEANTSON R.M.; LONGDEN ISHAM H., 1907, Journal of The Northamptonshire Natural History Society & Field Club, p.1-6 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN19959.

<4> OMAN C., 1906, A Political History of England, p.392-3 (unchecked) (Book). SNN57602.

<5> BROOKE R., 1857, Field of Battle, p.50 (unchecked) (Book). SNN493.

<6> KINROSS J., 1979, The Battlefields of Britain, p.32-3 (checked) (Discussion). SNN494.

<7> Musgrave E.C.; Tingle M. (editors), 1991, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1990, p113 Hardingstone (Article). SNN100325.

<8> Thorne A.; Walsh T., 2005, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, Topographical and Metal-detecting Surveys at Barnes Meadow, Northampton. November to December 2004, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105012.

<9> Finn, C., 2015, A Programme of Archaeological Assessment of the Unauthorised Groundworks at Delapre Golf Course Northampton April 2015, p. 25 (Report). SNN110515.

<10> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), p. 43 (Journal). SNN111326.

<11> BAJR, 2015, War of the Roses cannonball confirmed from the Battle of Northampton (Website). SNN112005.

Record last edited

Jul 27 2022 3:38PM