Monument record 4959/1/7 - Cemetery, St James' Abbey

The greater part of the cemetery, 278 burials, was excavated in 2000-1.

{1} The presence of an abbey cemetery lying to the south-east of the cloister has been established by the recovery of several inhumation burials in Trench 9. Further burials and a decorated grave slab had been previously found in this area during building works in 1970 {6}.

{3} The abbey of St James, an Augustinian foundation, dates from the beginning of the twelfth century. The abbey boasted an infirmary, which was built on land donated by Bobert Barre. Few monastic documents have survived but it is known that rents were assigned to the infirmary in 1257. Numerous benefactors gave grants of land and donations of money and gifts.
Adelin, daughter of Norman de Mont Faltrell, gave 20 acres of land to the abbey on the condition that she was received as a sister. Other graves inside the abbey, dating to the later fifteenth century and early sixteenth centuries, include Lady Elizabeth Borough; Sir John Catesby and Richard Berde. The latter, gave various gifts, including 2d to every poor child and 3d to every poor man in the abbey, as well as two pewter dishes to the infirmary. The most famous grave is that of Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers, and the brother-in-law of Edward IV and uncle to the wife of Henry VII.
Human bone from two hundred and seventy eight skeletons was forwarded for examination. All but one, 3178 (containing dis-articulated juvenile bones), could be grouped by phase, dating from the earliest (1) to the latest (4) periods of cemetery use. One grave (SK 3002) was within the abbey and five (SK 3157; 3159; 3215; 3216; 3217) were buried in a chapel dated to phase 2. Only one multiple burial, containing an adult male (SK 3056) and a 10-13 year old ?boy (SK 3055), was discovered. The majority were simple earth graves; however, twenty-seven individuals, mainly dated to the earlier phases, were buried in coffins.

{4} The known cemetery, which formed a second cloister to the south-east of the chapter house, was excavated within an open area measuring 30m by 27m. A total of 294 burials were recovered, which represents the greater part of the cemetery, although the northern extent was not determined.
There was intensive use and reuse of most of this area with many intercutting graves and much disturbance of the earlier interments. The earlier use was in well ordered rows, and the presence of many wooden coffins, ceramic roof-tile and stone-lined graves and a single stone coffin suggests the occupants were of relatively high status. In the later use the arrangement was less well ordered, and the majority of the burials were in simple earth-cut graves. To the south lay a range containing two mortuary chapels. Within one there was a stone-lined tomb, and a fragment of life-sized sculptured leg, with chain mail and a stirrup strap, came from a broken-up effigy. A highly decorated grave slab and the remains of two skeletons had been unearthed from the other chapel during building works in 1970. Preliminary assessment of the burials indicates the presence of a high percentage of elderly individuals including examples with extreme trauma and pathological conditions, such as healed fractures, fused and/or deformed leg joints and advanced degeneration of the spine. These may well be individuals who had died in the abbey infirmary. There are very few infants or juveniles, but the presence of some women suggests that the cemetery was not exclusively monastic.

{7} Human bones and masonry observed.

<1> Chapman A., 2000, Archaeological Evaluation Of The Former Express Lift Company, Abbey Works, Weedon Road, Northampton, P. 29 (Report). SNN100471.

<2> Chapman A , Chapman P, 2000-01, Northampton, Express Lift Company, Abbey Works, (unchecked) (Note). SNN104001.

<3> Anderson T., 2004, The Cemetery of St James' Abbey, Weedon Road, Northampton 2000-2001: The Skeletal Material, (unchecked) (Report). SNN104777.

<4> Anderson T., 2004, The Cemetery of St James' Abbey, Weedon Road, Northampton 2000-2001: The Skeletal Material (The Tables), (unchecked) (Report). SNN104778.

<5> Cadman, G., 2013, Chester Farm: Archives and Heritage Service Team Visit (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN109397.

<6> The Express Lifts Co, 1970, The Contactor (Journal). SNN111388.

<7> Shaw M.; Williams J., 1971-1981, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Record Cards, M180 (Index). SNN133.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 1:10PM