Monument record 1347/0/24 - Late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval settlement

Possible 10th-11th century origin for this part of the village. A north-south street connected the two main streets of Stanwick in the medieval period. Plots were identified on either side. The northern part of the street was realigned in the post-medieval period during landscaping of the hall gardens continuing in use until the 19th century. Geophysical survey and trial trench evaluation undertaken in 2021 identified further evidence of medieval and early post-medieval settlement in the area immediately around the present hall.

{1} The course of the realigned road (following the landscaping of Stanwick Hall Gardens) survives as a prominent bank. Excavation revealed that the road was of limestone construction. Fragments of modern brick and willow pattern confirm local information that the road was still in use within living memory. Road founded on buried topsoil which sealed medieval features.

{2}Saxon features with late Saxon pottery along with sherds (111) 10th-11th century. The only Saxon ditch does not follow the alignment of the street, suggesting a medieval replanning of the village. Low bank marks the route of road - trial trench showed cambered road was made up of limestones with smaller chippings providing an even top. Pottery from excavation at Stanwick Hall grounds. 253 sherds of medieval pottery, mainly St Neots ware. 24 sherds of late Saxon pottery were obtained from 6 contexts and 1 early-middle Saxon sherd.

{3}Medieval settlement and Post Medieval gardens excavation by S Parry. Trial excavation of 1990. Medieval stone buildings to the rear of the frontages. An absence of later pottery suggests that the area was largely deserted by the late C14th.

{5} A sparse scatter of features containing only late Saxon pottery together with a total collection of 111 sherds perhaps suggest a 10th-11th century origin for this part of the village. The alignment of the only late Saxon ditch was not followed by the street, which could therefore be the result of medieval replanning.

The earthworks within the grounds of the hall include a central core of settlement made up of a north-south street connecting the two main streets of the village. The former street survives as a low bank which coincides with the route shown in both Bryant's map and the Inclosure map. A trial trench showed that the cambered road was made up of limestone pieces with smaller chippings providing an even top. Excavation showed that the street was lined with stone walls of possible boundaries or even individual structures. Medieval pottery sherds dating to AD 1100-1400 were found in the clay loam through which the wall foundations were cut. Possible corner of a building located some 4m to the rear of the wall fronting the street. Eight medieval sherds found within the wall construction. East side completely removed but traced as a robber trench. Earlier phase of building sugegsted by two shallow trenches. On the east side of the street, two possible buildings uncovered, each offset from the frontage. Both buildings associated with medieval pottery. Area appears to have been largely deserted by the late 14th century.

Ditches behind street frontage probably mark former plots. A trace of a ditch running at right angles to the street suggest that individual plots were of similar length to those opposite. Cross ditches suggest possible later subdivision. Several pits located within individual plots, containing medieval pottery. Remains of a well found in one plot.

During later landscaping of the hall gardens the northern part of the road was resited. The course of the realigned road survives as a prominent bank, which excavation has shown to be formed by limestone pieces with smaller chips tamped on to the surface. The road width (1.9m) was sharply cambered at either side to provide an overall breadth of 2.7m. Modern brick and pottery confirm its recent use.

{6} Geophysical survey identified the north-south aligned road with evidence of settlement activity either side. A large rectangular feature was also revealed, situated on what appears to be a building platform, and likely represents a large former building, possibly a former iteration of the hall.

{7} Trial trench excavation in the area immediately around the hall identified extensive medieval and early post-medieval activity including evidence of possible timber-founded buildings and a substantial limestone walls of a large building with extensions. A well and boundary ditches were also identified. Trenches excavated in the parkland to the north identified further evidence of timber-and stone-founded buildings.

<1> 1991, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN54101.

<2> Parry S., 1993, Raunds Area Survey Report, p.67-71(unchecked) (Draft). SNN1175.

<3> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.124 (checked) (Article). SNN104441.

<4> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP:SP9771/033 (unchecked) (Photographs). SNN104822.

<5> Parry S. et al, 2006, Raunds Area Survey: An Archaeological Study of The Landscape of Raunds, Northamptonshire 1985-94, p. 164-167 (Book). SNN105780.

<6> Evershed, R, 2021, Archaeological Evaluation Report: Geophysical Survey by Magnetometry on land at Stanwick Hall, Stanwick, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN115845.

<7> Roberts, D (with contributions by Upex, S), 2021, A Report on the Findings from an Archaeological Evaluation Excavation (Targeted Trial Trenches) & Standing Building Assessment of a Small Barn at Stanwick Hall, Stanwick, Northamptonshire (Draft) (Report). SNN115846.

Record last edited

Jan 10 2024 12:58PM