Monument record 1160/2/1 - Possible Saxon Boundary Ditch

{1}Section showed that top of sandstone natural occurred at depth of 2.8m below present ground level; above this was layer of light brown sandy soil with small sandstone fragments; large pit or ditch had been cut through this layer into sandstone to depth of 4.8m below present ground surface; ditch would have been c.13m wide; main fill of brown sandy soil containing sherd of C12/13th shelly jug; evidence suggests ditch 13m wide & 3.8m deep was filled in during C12/13th; similarity with excavation carried out in Bath St & Scarletwell St in 1961 suggests that in all probability Saxon town was surrounded by wide & shallow ditch which was deliberately filled in after Conquest when town was enlarged;

{2}Possible ditch c.13m wide & 3.8m deep identified; single sherd of C12/13th pottery recovered from main fill;

<1> Mynard, DC, 1972, Northampton: Trial excavation on the probable line of the Saxon Town Defences, 7/42 (Note). SNN41220.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.327 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<3> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, AS14 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

Record last edited

Aug 18 2016 10:11AM