Monument record 4742/0/1 - Site of Iron Age activity, south-east of St Mary's Church

Iron Age rubbish pits and a ditch were found near the church during the construction of 'Happylands' in 1957. The ditch was observed again during the construction of a new house on the site of 'Happylands' in 2019. Archaeological investigation in 2018 found further, probably early, Iron Age features on the east side of Church Lane.

{1} "Mr G.K Tull of our local society has reported the finding of 'several IA rubbish tips' at Stoke Bruerne (SP 7449) while foundations were being dug for a new house, the finds being dated 4th or 5th c BC".

{2} Found near the church (info from Mr A Warhurst, when he was the curator of Northampton Museum)

{5} Several rubbish pits containing a few sherds of Hunsbury ware, pieces of iron, mussel and oyster shells and fragments of chert, were discovered during building work c.1957 [at Happylands].

{6} The pits contained Hunsbury Ware, two pieces of iron, mussel and oyster shell and pieces of chert.

{7} Archaeological investigation prior to construction of a house in 2018 on land north of Peppercorns identified a small number of features dating to the Iron Age including several ditches aligned east-west and a pit. While most of the pottery from the features could only be broadly dated to the Iron Age, some sherds were distinctively early types.

{8, 9,10} A plan associated with the construction of Happylands in 1957 discovered prior to building work in 2019 showed the course of an Iron Age ditch found during drainage works. The conservatory element of the new build was likely to disturb the ditch. Archaeological observation identified two ditches that correlated well with the orientation of the ditch, with a gap between the two sections likely forming an entrance way. A small amount of prehistoric pottery was found in the ditch fills.

{12} Mr Chown the owner of the new house at 7404 4975 confirmed the siting of the IA finds and said that they are now in Northampton Museum. (They consist of half a dozen sherds of Hunsbury ware, 2 small pieces
of iron, not yet classified by the museum, mussel and oyster shells, and pieces of chert).

{13} A probable IA farmstead site has been noted just s of Stoke Bruerne (SP 742496).

<1> 1957, CORRESPONDENCE, Letter, 11.5.57 (E F Instone) (Letter). SNN43177.

<2> 1969, Journal of The Wolverton and District Archaeological Society, p.19 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN21580.

<3> 1957, CHRONICLE & ECHO, 6/5/1957 (Journal). SNN59329.

<4> 1957, CHRONICLE & ECHO, 9/8/1957 (Journal). SNN59330.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.136/Site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP74NW8 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<7> Dodd, L, 2019, Archaeological strip, map and sample report: Land adjacent to Peppercorns, Church Lane, Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN111848.

<8> Barr, E, and Brown, R, 2020, Woodcote House (formerly Happylands) Church Lane, Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Observation, Investigation, Recording, Analysis and Publication (Report). SNN112369.

<9> Cotswold Archaeology, 2019, Woodcote House (formally Happylands), Church Lane, Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Investigation (Report). SNN112370.

<10> Cotswold Archaeology, 2021, Site images from Archaeological Observation and Recording at Woodcote House (formerly Happylands), Church Lane, Northamptonshire 2019, https://doi.org/10.5284/1084810 (Digital archive). SNN112405.

<11> Crank, N. (Editor), 2020, South Midlands Archaeology (50), p. 79 (Journal). SNN112426.

<12> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 06-AUG-1970 (Notes). SNN110341.

<13> PEVSNER N., 1961, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 414 (Series). SNN113374.

Record last edited

Feb 23 2024 11:54AM