Monument record 1160/35/2 - Doddridge Chapel burial ground

Burial ground associated with the 17th century chapel. It was disused by the late 19th century. Limited evalution of the site has shown that there is high potential for a high density of grave cuts.

{1} Trial trench excavated by the borough on the corner of Doddridge Street and St Mary's Street in October 1975. Doddridge Chapel burial ground was located.

[4] - In May 2023, MOLA undertook a test pit evaluation at Doddridge Car Park. The results found seven burials, six of which were kept in situ. The lack of medieval finds within TP1 suggest that the burial ground is associated with the earliest surviving Nonconformist chapel in Northampton, located 55m to the north of TP1. It is estimated that the burial ground is likely to contain 1,500 burials.

{5} The burial ground is marked as disused by 1885.

{8, 9} A watching brief and subsequent test pit evaluation undertaken by MoLAS in 2002 identified a large number of burials. The observed burials were between 70.75m and 69.88 a OD. The burials were intercutting. A total of 39 definite burials were located, with 27 identified in four test pits. The presence of an autopsied skeleton indicates that part of the cemetery is 18th century or later in date. The cemetery appears to have at least two alignments of graves, indicating separate phases of cemetery use. A single brick-built tomb or vault was exposed at the western end of the site. The bricks post-date 1800.

{10} Trial trench excavation revealed the southern cemetery boundary wall.

<1> Shaw M.; Williams J., 1971-1981, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Record Cards, M167 (checked) (Index). SNN133.

<2> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, M166 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

<3> Robert Simister Falvey, 2023, Archaeological Test Pit Evaluation at Doddridge Car Park, Northampton (Report). SNN115884.

<4> Anna Rojek, 2023, Archaeological hand dug test pits and monitoring of machine dug pits At Chalk Lane and Doddridge Car Parks Northampton, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN115881.

<5> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), 1:500; 1885 (Map). SNN112944.

<6> Northampton Development Corporation Archaeology Unit, 1975, Trial trench on corner of Doddridge Street and St Mary's Street (Archive). SNN116747.

<7> Northampton Development Corporation Archaeology Unit, 1975, East side of Chalk Lane, 1975 (M166) (Archive). SNN116748.

<8> Wilson T., 2002, Proposed car park, Sol Central (west of Doddridge Street), Northampton (Report). SNN102119.

<9> Harward C., 2002, Sol Central car park, Doddridge Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire; An archaeological post excavation assessment (Report). SNN102365.

<10> Pennell, C, 2024, Archaeological trial trench and monitoring of geotechnical works evaluation at Marefair (Doddridge Car Park), Northampton, Northamptonshire, July 2024 (Report). SNN116855.

Record last edited

Jul 3 2025 3:55PM