Monument record 1160/205/1 - Medieval activity, Frances' Jetty

A series of medieval deposits, including evidence of possible buildings and forging hearth, were revealed in a trial trench excavated along Frances' Jetty. No conclusive evidence of the eastern side of the late Saxon defences was identified

{1} A trial trench was excavated in 1988 along Frances' Jetty. The intention was to seek evidence for the eastern side of the late Saxon defences of Northampton. A series of medieval deposits were identified. Overlying the natural in the trench was: 1) a possible trench filled with greyish brown soil from which thirteenth-to fifteenth-century pottery was recovered; 2) a pit containing thirteenth-to fourteenth-century pottery; 3) a layer of orange soil above a layer of grey silty clay with ironstone fragments - which were both cut by 1 and 2; 4) a layer of burnt material including much slag, which may represent the remains of a forging hearth overlying 3; 5) a possible ditch running east-west along the trench and cutting 3 but itself cut by 1; and a series of post- and stakeholes which cut layers 2 and 3.

{3} Medieval occupation deposits;

{4} No definite indication of late Saxon defences; ditch running east-west may indicate change of alignment;

<1> Shaw M., 1988, SMR Report Form- Frances' Jetty trial trench, (checked) (Report). SNN49521.

<2> Shaw M.; Williams A., 1989, Frances' Jetty, Northampton, p.30-1 (checked) (Report). SNN2962.

<3> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, P122 (Article). SNN104441.

<4> Gaimster D.R.M.; Margeson S.; Barry T.;, 1989, Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1988, p.204 (checked) (Note). SNN653.

Record last edited

Nov 14 2023 9:53AM