Monument record 2390/0/14 - Probable late Saxon enclosure

Four phases of ditches were distinguished, culminating in the creation of a sub-rectangular enclosure. Pottery from all the features dated to the late Saxon period.

{1} Late Saxon ditch associated with an earthwork enclosure and possibly contemporary internal features. Archaeological features were limited to the east part of the site where two sub-rectangular earthwork enclosures were located. In trench 1, a sequence of intercutting ditches appeared to be associated with the more substantial of the two enclsures. These yielded small quantities of 10th to 11th century St. Neot's type ware pottery.

{2} Two sub rectangular earthwork enclosures, in trench 1 a series of intercutting ditches appeared to be associated with the more substantial of the two enclosures. These yielded small quantities of 10-11th century St Neot's type ware. While there were several shallow features internal to the enclosure, clear evidence of structures was lacking.

{3} Complex sequence of ditches and gullies. Ditches mostly earlier than the enclosure ditches were on north-east/south-west alignments. Some gullies on same alignment. The major ditches ran approximately east-west and terminated within the trench. They were up to 2m wide and 0.8m deep and appeared to form the northern arm of a possible rectangular enclosure of three phases.There was no clear evidence of a bank, but possible traces of a much reduced internal one. A 10th to early 12th century date was indicated but the excavation was unable to elucidate the nature of the "enclosure". St.Neots type pottery found.

{4} During the evaluation a series of late Saxon ditches aligned NE-SW were shown to be unrelated, at least directly, to the earthwork enclosure here (Pref ref 2390/0/2). Four main phases of ditches can be distinguished stratigraphically and on the basis of alignment. The earliest gullies were aligned north-south, replaced by those aligned NW-SE. This pattern was succeeded by the major ditches which seemed to form the corner of a sub-rectangular enclosure. Forty-one sherds of late Saxon pottery were recovered, most of it St Neots Ware dating from the 10th-11th century.

The general paucity of finds suggests that the main focus of settlement lay further to the east, perhaps with a frontage on High Street.

<1> OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT, 1994, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN49410.

<2> Mudd A, 1993-4, Naseby, (Nutcote Brookfield), P188 (unchecked) (Note). SNN104198.

<3> MUDD A., 1995, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter, 46-7 (unchecked) (Notes). SNN40010.

<4> Mudd, A., 1995, Late Saxon ditches at Brookfield, Nutcote, Naseby, p. 149-152 (Notes). SNN62044.

<5> Mudd, A., 1994, Brookfield, Nutcote, Naseby, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Field Evaluation, February 1994 (Report). SNN72958.

<6> OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT, 1995, Brookfield, Nutcote, Naseby, Northamptonshire: Assessment of potential & update of potential (Report). SNN76775.

Record last edited

Jun 20 2017 2:57PM