Monument record 1160/1/47 - Late Saxon occupation, north of castle bailey ditch

Archaeological watching brief undertaken in 1988 during the groundworks for a new exit road identified a series of late Saxon deposits including a ditch and a hearth.

{1} To north of medieval bailey ditch late Saxon deposits could be seen preserved in section of bank, the deposits included a 4m wide x 1m deep ditch revealed filled with grey-brown clay & containing late Saxon pottery, a hearth containing late Saxon pottery which overlay earlier ditch, as well as a shallow trench cut on south side of ditch.

{3} The late Saxon levels did not survive at the level of the car park to the west, but a 10-20m wide bank of earth between the exit-road and St Andrews Road can be expected to contain contemporary deposits.

{5} Late Saxon ground surface exposed but not investigated in section across bailey bank on north-east side of castle.

<1> SHAW M. & WILLIAMS A., 1988, Railway Station, Northampton; Watching brief, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49256.

<2> Gaimster D.R.M.; Margeson S.; Barry T.;, 1989, Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1988, p.204 (checked) (Note). SNN653.

<3> SHAW M. & WILLIAMS A., 1989, CASTLE STATION, p.29-30 (Report). SNN3620.

<4> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.122 (Article). SNN104441.

<5> Chapman A., Northampton Castle: A Review of The Evidence, (checked) (Unpublished Report). SNN2966.

<6> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, P122 (Checked) (Article). SNN104441.

Record last edited

Mar 21 2025 11:04AM