Monument record 5567/0/1 - Possible medieval building, Horn Wood

The remains of a small rectangular building; stone walls surviving up to eight courses high. Excavated in the 1960s. Only two sherds of 13th century pottery were found. Possible lodge keepers bothy

{1}Fieldwork undertaken by Graham Cadman from September 1989- March 1990 in Horn Wood. An excavation had been undertaken in 1965; a possible medieval stone building was found; excavation undertaken by Mr Clayton. Only a baulk across the centre and a small area in the south-east corner remained unexcavated.

The extant remains of the rectangular stone building 8.4m x 5.2m were planned and two test pits were excavated. The walls were traced as low earthworks, min 8 courses high (where measured the walls were at least 0.53m high and 0.60m wide). An internal wall (0.50m wide) divided the building into two unequal rooms access to which was via two adjacent doorways set into the eastern wall. At the time of excavation at least one contained a door jamb setting as well as a possible pivot stone. The floors were of clay and possibly limestone. Limestone slabs to the east of the building indicate a paved yard. Dating evidence was recovered from the 1960s excavation only and comprised 13th century pottery and an iron arrowhead. The building is possibly a lodge keepers bothy. The possibly medieval boundaries of the wood are formed by the double-ditch and bank alignment along the north-west side. A ditch set 5-10m to the south side of the wood and a further ditch and further ditch and associated stone drain or culvert may be of recent origin;

{3} Note;

{4} Photographs of 1965 excavation;

<1> CADMAN G.E., 1990, Horn Wood, (unchecked) (Full Report). SNN29115.

<2> Hall D.N., 2001, Northamptonshire Woodland Survey Archive, (part checked) (Digital archive). SNN109590.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 45 (Series). SNN77380.

<4> Northampton Museum Records, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN126.

<5> O'HARA P, 1991, HORN WOOD SURVEY (Drawing). SNN57993.

Record last edited

Jun 21 2023 11:34AM