Monument record 7049 - Early Saxon Settlement and Middle Saxon Estate Centre, Higham Ferrers

A scattered early Saxon settlement was demonstrated by a small number of early Saxon sunken featured buildings and associated features. After a break in occupation of about half a century, a large horseshoe-shaped enclosure and associated buildings were constructed in the late 7th or early 8th century as an estate centre. The enclosure was later extended and modified and further buildings constructed. The enclosure complex was abandoned abruptly in the late 8th or early 9th century with closure deposits possibly including the partial remains of an executed female. The landscape once more became open with more scattered occuption dating to the late Saxon period, characterised as roadside sprawl on re-colonised waste ground.

{1} (SP 959694) Large area of cropmarks; possible IA site. (see SP 96 NE 29). A E Rollings.

{2} Photo's held by Rollings show intensive markings in this area. At present under grass; nothing of interest was seen and Rollings, who had walked it in more favourable conditions, has found only medieval and later pottery.

{3} Fieldwalking evidence suggests that the early/middle Saxon settlement covers an area of up to 2ha at the south-west end of the field. The pottery forms one of the largest scatters of this period ever found in the county. Late Saxon settlement covered an area of up to 3ha at the south end of the field. Trial trench excavation could not confidently assign a large number of features to these periods due to lack of dating evidence.

{6} 12 evaluation trences found a whole series of Early-Middle Saxon features. The densest concentration of Anglo-Saxon occupation was in the Southern part of the field with the density of features diminishing towards the north. Number of postholes of middle to late Saxon date overlapping the south end of the oval enclosure. Currently interpreted as two overlapping timber halls. A sequence of shallow gullies forming a pattern of rectangle overlay the timber halls, and these are thought to be the rear tenement boundaries of late Saxon and possibly medieval houses.

{7}12 trial trenches. Early Anglo-Saxon occupation-sunken building. All features had been heavily truncated by ploughing. There was a concentration of Saxon occupation in the southern part of the field, represented by ditches, post holes and a possible sunken floored building. Middle to Late Saxon date. Two large overlapping timber halls were identifed. These were of both posthole and trench built construction. Overlying the timber halls was a sequence of shallow gullies forming a rectilinear pattern and these are thought to be the remains of the rear tenement boundaries of the late Saxon and Medieval houses. The houses may have faced onto a triangular green.

{9} Large-scale excavations at King's Meadow Lane found evidence of a nationally important middle Saxon estate centre. Low density early Saxon settlement was concentrated in discrete areas across the different excavation areas. There were three SFBs in the central part of the site, two of which appeared to be contemporary. The material remains of the settlement were unremarkable. The pottery and stratigraphic evidence suggests that there was a significant break in occupation, possibly around half a century, prior to the construction of the large horseshoe-shaped enclosure, with the site being laid out between the late 7th century and the early 8th century and subsequently dismantled and totally cleared towards the end of the 8th or early 9th century. The original size of the enclosure was 0.8ha and it is argued that it was visible from the royal site of Irthlingborough across the river. There was, initially, a probable timber hall at the enclosure opening; in the mid to late 8th century the enclosure was extended south and the early hall replaced. Further buildings were built in the newly enclosed space. Only one of the buildings had a hearth, although a second had a possible raised hearth, suggesting these two were intended for occupation. The other four buildings were of a simple layout and lightweight construction and were most likely storehouses or animal shelters. There was little evidence of routine domestic activity- seemingly modest in numbers and not routinely engaging in craft activities, although the pottery is suggestive of a very important site. At some point in the second half of the 8th century the oval enclosure was abandoned and the western extension enclosure ditch was recut. It is suggested that the enclosure complex represents part of a royal centre, functioning as a collection centre for tribute from the region, the enclosure acting as a stock pen and most of the buildings serving as storehouses or barns for the collection of other goods.
The stratigraphic evidence strongly suggests that the third and final version of the enclosure complex went out of use abruptly, either at the end of the 8th century or perhaps as late as the early 9th century, with the enclosure ditch backfilled in one operation, possibly in a politically motivated act. A group of eight bone needles was dropped into the ditch, possibly as a termination deposit. Furthermore the partial skeleton of a woman, parts of other bodies and dog skeletons were found in the ditch fill. The woman appeared to have the victim of an execution, possibly for reasons relating to events surrounding the end of the estate centre.

{9, 10} Cropmarks in this area, presumably those described above (Sources 1-2), were viewed and mapped, as part of the Bedford Borough NMP project from available aerial photographs. Those mentioned in Source {2} were not available to view. The mapped features comprised a large curvilinear ditched enclosure centred at SP 95920 69339. Archaeological excavations undertaken in 2000, prior to construction of a housing development, revealed this to be of Mid Saxon date. Three sunken feature buildings were also dated to the Saxon period suggesting a Saxon settlement.

<1> Northampton Museum 6 Inch Map (Map). SNN10162.

<2> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 30-JUL-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<3> Shaw M.; Steadman S., 1991, Archaeological Evaluation on Duchy of Lancaster Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN1366.

<4> Shaw M.; Steadman S., 1991, Archaeological Evaluation on Duchy of Lancaster Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Figures (Report). SNN105536.

<5> MUDD A., 1993-4, Higham Ferrers, (Kings Meadow Lane), p.188 (checked) (Journal). SNN104197.

<6> MUDD A., 1994, King's Meadow Lane, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation (Report). SNN40106.

<7> Horne, B (editor), 1996, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (26), p.43 (unchecked) (Notes). SNN40064.

<8> Charles B., 2002, Kings Meadow Lane, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire; Post Excavation Assessment and Research Design (Report). SNN102375.

<9> Hardy A.; Charles B.M.; Williams R.J., 2007, Death & Taxes: The Archaeology of A Middle Saxon Estate Centre at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN106006.

<10> Oblique Aerial Photograph, NHC 11919/5 23-MAY-1990 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:10PM