Monument record 5134/0/2 - C6th/C7th Saxon Grubenhaus, Upton

A Saxon hut which had been destroyed by fire was discovered during road improvements. Rows of loomweights suggest it may have been used as a weaving shed. The finds are in the Ashmolean Museum.

{1} Excavation of 1965 by D. Jackson. Large Saxon grubenhaus or hall, 7.4m x 4.5m x 1m deep. No hearth and little domestic debris. 60+ loom-weights suggest a weaving shed. Also early Saxon pot sherds and daub.

{2} Two Saxon ditches cut the north-east corner. The building had been destroyed by fire. Charred remains suggested the presence of fixed wooden furniture.

{3} Suggested occupation date of late C6th-early C7th. A bone comb was amongst the finds.

{6} In 1965, during road works at Upton finds in a bulldozed area were brought to the attention of Mr D A Jackson, Upper Nene Arch Soc. He conducted a rescue excavation financed by Ashmolean Museum who retain all finds, but have not, as yet, published a report and no precis can be given.

Mr Jackson could not be contacted but Northampton Museum provided the following information:

"The remains of a small building, c 20ft sq were found with many post holes, some containing charred stump posts, part of a roughly paved floor, two Saxon round loom weights and a few Saxon potsherds…"

The precise site, now levelled, was indicated at SP 7146460215.

{7} No further information.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.407/Site 5 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> 1969, The Antiquaries Journal, p.202-21 (checked) (Journal). SNN58178.

<3> 1966, Medieval Archaeology (10), 10/172 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN58109.

<4> Shaw M., 1993, The Discovery of Saxon Sites Below Fieldwalking Scatters: Settlement Evidence at Brixworth and Upton, p.83 (part checked) (Report). SNN40460.

<5> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1966, Bulletin of the Northamptonshire Federation of Archaeological Societies (Migration and Early Medieval) (Article). SNN17736.

<6> Harper, F R, 1966, Field Investigators Comments (Note). SNN110348.

<7> Seaman, B H, 1967, Field investigators comments, F2 BHS 18-MAR-1967 (Notes). SNN114635.

Record last edited

Feb 14 2024 3:58PM