Monument record 727/10/1 - Possible Civil War Defensive Earthwork, Towcester Meadow

A ditch and bank earthwork of possible post-medieval date. It is marked on a map of 1840.

{1}Linear feature similar in location and extent marked on 1840 estate map of the Earl of Pomfret's land (NRO map 2922)

{2} Trial excavation undertaken in August 1990 by G. Cadman at Towcester Meadow; 2 of the trenches cut across earthworks; a flat-bottomed ditch was noted, 2.5-3.0m wide and 0.40m deep at the minimum; also a gravel and earth bank was noted, which was 2.5-3.0m high prior to erosion; a possible berm; date and function unknown; post-medieval in date?

{3} Trial excavation of earthwork ditch and bank on meadowland in Towcester. Two trial trenches revealed a flat bottomed ditch of up to 3m wide and 0.40m deep; earth and gravel bank approx 3m wide at base. Single fragment of hand made green glass found in ditch - part of wine bottle dating to period c1650-90. Earthwork possibly of 17th century or later origin (Civil War defences?), but no substantive dating material.

{4} Iron Age, Roman and Post Medieval features evaluation by G Cadman.

{5} The date of the bank is problematical; the only finds from its body were a few abraded scraps of Iron Age and Roman pottery. It is possible therefore that this could be an ancient earthwork which was reutilised in the post medieval period by recutting the ditch. It is more likely however that is it entirely of post medieval date, the pottery simply being residual material disturbed from nearby deposits.

{6} Limited evidence for the defences has been recovered in excavations by Jackson in the area immediately to the north of the Northampton road on the north east side.

{7} Visible remains of low, linear rectangular and irregular earthworks. Indeterminate date. Also dumping of material associated with the digging of the adjacent mill leat.
The principal earthwork feature (A) is a bank with a ditch on its north-east side. It runs from the north-west end of the site by the River Tove to the south-east end, where it turns towards the mill leat. It appears to have been recut. This ditch and bank formed the most prominent feature of the geophysical survey. A parallel feature to the south-west is believed to be a (modern?) sewer trench.

<1> 1840, Towcester Estate Map (NRO Map 2922), (unchecked) (Map). SNN54886.

<2> CADMAN G.E., 1990, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN50209.

<3> Pike A. (Editor), 1991, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter, 21/73 (checked) (Newsletter). SNN2091.

<4> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.125 (checked) (Article). SNN104441.

<5> COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST, 1992, Towcester Retail Development, Northamptonshire, Stage 1: Archaeological Assessment, p.12 (checked) (Draft). SNN70046.

<6> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, 3.2 (checked) (Report). SNN103132.

<7> Walker G., 1992, Towcester Retail Development, Northamptonshire: Report on The Results of An Archaeological Evaluation, p.1+5-6 (checked) (Report). SNN70243.

<8> Legg, R, 2019, Geophysical survey report of Towcester Water Meadows, Towcester, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN113501.

Record last edited

May 24 2022 8:51AM