Find Spot record 6576/0/0 - Site of a possible early 19th century military camp

A large quantity of unstratified C19th military artefacts have been found

{1} Metal detectorists have recovered a scatter of 'C17th and C18th' military buttons from the east side of the field. At least 220 military buttons were recovered, many of pewter and originating from at least 17 different regiments. Tent pegs and other items were found centred on SP66855860. Other features along this boundary include stone scatters and minor boundary earthwork ditches and banks. Note in particular is made of the localised changes of direction of the field and parish boundaries here. S.Young speculates that there may have been some sort of military redoubt close to the button scatter, the area perhaps being used for military training or a temporary camp.

{2} In November on the last day of survey the eastern edge of the field was targeted. Pewter buttons with a crown and the number '64' on them were found. Pewter buttons numbered '83' were also found. These were identified as coming from the 64th Regiment of Foot (from Staffordshire) and the 83rd Regiment of Foot (from the county of Dublin). Other buttons numbered '36' and '54' were found later, which were identified as being the Herefordshire Regiment of Foot and the West Norfolk Regiment of Foot. It was deduced that the remains were related to Weedon Barracks c.4km to the north-west.
A letter was sent to the Staffordshire Regiment, and the reply clarified the finds. Major McLean identified the sample button as a back button made by P & S Firmin of London pre 1855. He also stated that on 14th October 1843 the 64th Regiment moved from Portsmouth and occupied Weedon Barracks, remaining there until 8th April 1844 when eight companies were dispersed. The headquarters and remaining two companies stayed at Weedon until 22nd July 1845 when the Regiment moved to Manchester.
As the survey continued it became apparent that the area of the find scatter was very specific, confined to a c.120m x 90m rectangle. An accurate plan of the site was made.
It has been suggested that the site was that of a rifle range, which might explain why the finds were confined to a strip along the edge of the field. Contact with the Tower of London Armouries confirmed the types of musket which would have been in use at this time. Amongst some of the other finds were a few musket balls of a large calibre which matched the musket types suggested. Also found were small copper caps, later identified as percussion caps.
A map of 1841-1851 found in the Public Record Office related to land owned or leased by Weedon Depot, and contained very specific details of the range used by the barracks, which was several miles from this site. A Tithe map of 1845 (also at Kew) contained no additonal evidence.
Further searches on the site revealed additional buttons of the 29th Worcestershire Regiment of Foot, the 89th Regiment of Foot, another Irish regiment and a button of the 11th Regiment of North Devon. At this time the first badge was also found, in the form of a right-facing bugle (which in all illustrations was shown as left-facing). Greenery was starting to sprout over the field everywhere but the area of finds which remained brown.
The finds kept coming and other Regiments were identified: the 90th Volunteer Light Infantry from Perth, The 32nd Regiment of Foot from Cornwall and the 10th Regiment of Foot from Lincolnshire.
Other finds included a George III half-penny of 1806.

{3} A trial trench was dug in July1991. A button showing three cannons, a crown and the work 'ubique' was recovered, similar to others found by metal detecting. They are thought to belong to The Royal Artillery. Other finds were not prolific, but did include other buttons of the 64th Regiment, one of the 83rd, and one of the 6th, along with percussion caps, a lead flint holder, a watch key, a broken wine glass base, and a few fragments of china. 24 small, silver S-shaped badges were found. Their purpose is not known but are possibly dress accessories relating to the 64th 2nd Staffordshire Regiment.

{4} Over the months new regiments were still being revealed by pewter buttons from the site: the 43rd Monmouthshire Light Infantry (later the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, the 4th Kings Own Regiment of Foot, a copper alloy button of the 12th Lancers, and a pewter button of the Army of The East India Company. A large copper alloy button with a Victoriam crown and a Staffordshire knot beneath was found. The knot was demonstrated to be upside down, which for the Staffordshire Regiment usually denotes volunteer regiments.
Documentary references revealed that the site might have been in use since the 1820s.
On May 19th 1991 finds of pewter buttons were again made, along with percussion caps, a circular buckle and a George III 1806 halfpenny. Noteably, a gold half-sovereign dated to 1842 was also found.


{5} The site must have been connected with the Weedon and Northampton Barracks, although no direct link has yet been proven. The site probably had several uses; firstly as a camp providing 'in the field' experience for regiments who were in barracks for long periods of time, as a stop-over camp for units/regiments passing through the area, and as overspill accommodation. There remains a mystery about the heavy use of the site during the 1842-45 period when nothing appears to have been recorded.

<1> Cadman, G., 1995, Archive Report of Reconnaissance Survey at Upper and Nether Heyford, Kislingbury and Bugbrooke Parishes, 1991, (checked) (Report). SNN107268.

<2> Pulley S., 1992, From Roman Villa To Military Occupation - Seventeen Centuries On (Part I), p.40-43 (checked) (Article). SNN3430.

<3> Pulley S., 1992, From Roman Villa To Military Occupation - Seventeen Centuries On (Part II), p.36-38 (checked) (Article). SNN107266.

<4> Pulley S., 1992, From Roman Villa To Military Occupation - Seventeen Centuries On (Part III), p.32-34 (checked) (Article). SNN107267.

<5> Pulley S., 1992, From Roman Villa To Military Occupation - Seventeen Centuries On (Part III), p.34 (checked) (Article). SNN107267.

Record last edited

Mar 26 2019 12:30PM