Monument record 1160/201/5 - Late Saxon and medieval activity, south of Woolmonger Street

Features identified during trial trench excavation and subsequent excavation included pits and postholes, possibly indicative of 'back-yard' activity and a two-bay medieval building.

{1} Trial trench evaluation identified a dark humic layer overlaying the natural, possibly forms buried topsoil; this overlain by dark brown loamy sand thought to be material washed down slope subsequent to clearance of upper area presumably for cultivation purposes. Features of late Saxon date cut through this colluvial layer; occupation consisted of pits & postholes & ditches; no evidence of buildings fronting onto Woolmonger Street at north end of trench.
Trench 3 indicated that area was used for rubbish disposal in medieval period; large number of pits; deposits of horn cores in some suggest tanning activity in area; narrow ironstone foundation trench may represent light structure of some form.

{3} During redevelopment of the area inn the 1990s, a preservation in situ strategy was adopted and only a small area close to Woolmonger Street was excavated (Trench 14). The eastern end of the building identified in Trench 3 was identified in this trench.

<1> Shaw M.; Steadman S., 1994, Woolmonger Street, Northampton: Proposed Retail Development Archaeological Evaluation Stage 2 - Trial Trenching, p.3 (checked) (Report). SNN560.

<2> Soden I., 1998-9, A Story of Urban Regeneration: Excavations in Advance of Development off St Peter's Walk, Northampton, 1994-7, (Checked) (Article). SNN104032.

<3> Soden I., 1998, St Peters Walk, Northampton, Archaeological Excavations On Woolmonger Street 1994 - 7 (Report). SNN100018.

Record last edited

May 14 2021 2:15PM