Monument record 4015/0/1 - Stocks at South End of Stocks Street

Possible Medieval stocks (probable site of)

{1} Documentary evidence to location of medieval stocks; although there is no trace of the original stocks, they were replaced in 1920 by two sets. One is at the south end of Stocks Street, which was probably the original position, and the other set is in front of the Cardigan Arms Inn.

{2} Corby was granted a fair, II Henry III. A local custom at the fair held every 21 years is to demand a toll for entering the town and to place non-payers in the stocks. The old stocks have been destroyed but another set has been made.

{3} A set of stocks, erected in 1902 to replace the original medieval ones, still stand in the same position at the south end of Stocks Lane. These stocks were for the incarceration of non-payers to the medieval pole fair and are perhaps a good indicator of the postion of the centre of the medieval village.

{4} SP 89638893] No trace of the ancient stocks or of those set up in 1902 survives. The site of the original stocks is not certain but they are believed to have stood at the south end of Stocks Lane {6}.

{5} A charter of 1585 was granted by Elizabeth for toll to be charged. At the 1902 celebrations of the charter two sets of stocks were erected: one near the Nag's Head Inn, at the top of Stocks Lane - the name suggesting that they were near the original site and the other in 'The Jamb' in front of the wall of the Cardigan Arms Inn. The fair is called Pole Fair from large poles set up to mark the stocks.

<1> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Overview, (unchecked) (Report). SNN103118.

<2> Markham C.A., 1886, Ancient Punishments in Northamptonshire, p.149-150 (unchecked) (Article). SNN10158.

<3> Pullen, R. & Rosenberg, N., 1999, An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of The Nags Head, Corby, Northamptonshire, p.7-8 (checked) (Report). SNN63208.

<4> Woodhouse, W C, 1960, Field Investigators Comments, F1 WCW 13-JUn-1960 (Note). SNN113151.

<5> 1901, Journal of Northants Natural History Society & FC, p. 227 (Journal). SNN34927.

<6> Undated, Mr M Seaborne, Corby Hon Corr (Oral Report). SNN113152.

Record last edited

Mar 21 2022 3:25PM