Monument record 266 - Moreton Pinkney

Village with plan of two elements, each centred on a green. There are extensive earthworks of shrinkage, but these have also been suggested as a possible seperate deserted village.

{1} The west field of Moreton was enclosed in 1624 following on from a demesne enclosure in 1602 (PRO C78 116 (6)). The remainder was enclosed in 1761 by Parliamentary Act (Act NRO G 1259; Inc 51 is original enclosure award (1761), for which there is no map).
The tithe map of 1848 shows the whole parish (NRO T215).

The township was mapped from D Hall’s reconstruction of the enclosure award assisted by a 1796 written survey (NRO Box V2792). Settlement mapped from tithe map.

{2} Settlement remains (centred SP 572492) lie W of the village, on Upper Lias Clay at 135 m. above OD. The village of Moreton Pinkney has an unusual plan composed of two parts each centred on a green. It is not clear how such a plan has evolved unless the village is polyfocal, based on two separate settlements. In the village there are several empty plots where houses formerly stood, but the largest area of earthworks lies immediately W of the southern green. Long narrow closes bounded by low scarps or shallow ditches extend down the hillside towards the stream. These appear to be the abandoned gardens of houses which once stood on the W side of the green but which had already disappeared by 1848

{4} Morton Pinkney, the village is shrunken. To the west of the present village extensive village type earthworks have been identified. It is possible that these represent an unrecorded DMV.

{6} Painting of an inhabitant of Moreton Pinkney in the employ of Sir Henry Dryden of Canons Ashby, also copy of inclosure award, also notes on freehold estates;

<1> Hall D.N.; Britnell T., 2000?, South Northamptonshire Historic Landscape: Part III, p.14 (unchecked) (Report). SNN103302.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.103 site 1 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<3> 1848, Moreton Pinkney Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN8720.

<4> Hall, D N, 1975, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (5), P. 29 (Journal). SNN9947.

<5> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, RAF VAP CPE/UK/1926, 1057-8 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<6> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/189/12, 95, 168 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 2:28PM