Monument record 805/2/3 - St Mary's & All Saints Churchyard

{1} During the construction of footings at Church Barn chance discovery of 10 human burials, 10 further graves were recorded in situ to the east. Fragments of 5 further burials from subsequent foundation trenches. Article contains detailed lists of the skeletal remains recorded.

{4} The medieval churchyard is known to extend as far as the building now known as Church Barn, where burials were discovered during renovation in 1985.

{5} The medieval churchyard appears to have extended further to the west, for burials have been recovered some 18m to the north west of the present boundary. This may indicate that the churchyard boundary previously extended as far west as the eastern edge of the market places as mapped in 1716. Though the reason for such a change is unclear unless perhaps it represents the creation of a rectory on part of the site of the former College and churchyard following the dissolution.

{6} Present boundary shown but may have changed over time.

{7} Trial trenching in St Mary's Churchyard found evidence of pitched stone pathways close to the church. Possibly laid when the church was built although there was no dating evidence. There were no articulated burials.

{8} Archaeological observation of the excavation of service trenches around the church found a total of 22 articulated and partially articulated skeletons. More than half were 17 years of age or below. The majority of the burials were found on the northern side of the church, possibly because the trenches were deeper on this side of the church.
Very little in the way of dating evidence was available for these individuals. One was buried with a possible medieval belt buckle. This individual was also buried on top of the existing church foundations, which indicates that the internment took place sometime after the early 15th century. On the southern side of the church was evidence for burials which predated the existing church. One had been cut by a buttress in the southeast corner of the church and another had been cut by the southern porch foundation proving that the churchyard was in use prior to the construction of the existing church and southern porch.

{9} Excavation of the foundations for the new gates uncovered four worked sandstone blocks, each measuring 1m x 0.65m x 0.6m which may be related to a previous structure

<1> Dix B., 1985, Human Burials at Church Barn, Fotheringhay, p.139-41 (checked) (Article). SNN104554.

<2> Dix B. (editor), 1988?, NCC Archaeology Unit Annual Report for 1987, (checked) (Unpublished Report). SNN57501.

<3> 1987, Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit: Report for 1987, (checked) (Report). SNN55128.

<4> Johnston G., 2000-01, Excavation of an Ossuary at Fotheringhay Church, Northamptonshire, p.161-2 (checked) (Article). SNN103949.

<5> FOARD G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Fotheringhay (Medieval and Post Medieval), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100481.

<6> 1978, Graveyard Survey - St Mary and All Saints, Fotheringhay, (unchecked) (Report). SNN100925.

<7> Bertrand, J., 2015, Archaeological Evaluation Report: Church of St Mary and All Saints, Main Street, Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, 2015 (Report). SNN110890.

<8> Dodd, L, 2017, Archaeological Observation and Recording Report: Church of St Mary and All Saints, Main Street, Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, 2017 (Report). SNN111035.

<9> Shane, G., 2011, Watching Brief: St. Mary and All Saints Church, Main Street, Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, p 13 (checked) (Report). SNN107598.

Record last edited

May 3 2022 12:20PM