Monument record 1160/1/29 - Vaulted chamber, Northampton Castle

Excavations in 1863 identified a vaulted chamber with a central pillar of Norman date.

{1} Works in 1863 within north-east of inner bailey area exposed groined chamber with central column; very early Norman building; circular ironstone pier 3ft10in diameter x 4ft6in high; intensely burnt; other architectural fragments around also burnt; four walls of chamber 20ft square revealed with column forming central support for vaulting; flat pilaster-like buttress on inside of north wall; two window openings also observed; photograph of column taken. The location of the groined chamber as discovered in 1863 is marked by P on plan; [this location however does not concur with original siting in north-east of inner bailey in fact P on plan actaully lies outside curtain wall; Law then goes on to say that portion of shaft discovered lay at spot marked R which is over on east side of inner bailey area];

{2}Report on discovery of vaulted chamber; discusses possibility of it being part of Great Hall or chapel & its location in concurrance with 1323 commissioners' survey;

{3}Published photograph of Norman column;

{4}Four walls of chamber 20ft square revealed with column forming central support for vaulting; flat pilaster-like buttress on inside of north wall; two window openings also observed; circular ironstone pier 3ft10in diameter x 4ft6in high; intensely burnt; possible crypt under chapel or dungeon or ordinary chamber;

{5} Excavations in 1863 revealed Norman chamber with groined roof & central column; may have been part of castle at time of Henry II;

{6}Only addition to understanding of site in 1863 excavations was discovery in south-east corner of inner bailey of vaulted chamber with central ironstone pillar of Norman date; well preserved north wall with ashlared inner face;

<1> Law E.F., 1879-80, The ruins at the old castle, Northampton, (unchecked) (Article). SNN4346.

<2> 1863, The Northampton Mercury, (unchecked) (Article). SNN4006.

<3> 1863, The Northampton Mercury, (unchecked) (Article). SNN4007.

<4> Northampton Museum Records, 1863 May 2 6/N.M. (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN126.

<5> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire- The Borough of Northampton, p.33-34 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<6> Chapman A., Northampton Castle: A Review of The Evidence, (checked) (Unpublished Report). SNN2966.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2025 2:25PM