Monument record 849/2 - Possible medieval/post medieval manor, north-west of Kislingbury Church

Documentary sources indicate that there was a manor to the north-west of the church. Earthworks have been recorded and a watching brief identified several possible medieval features that be associated with a manorial complex.

{1} T.C. Welsh notes number of earthworks in fields surrounding church comprising a series of scarps and disturbed ground; only seen from a distance as no access to land.

{3} Mention of earthworks "..manor house for Kislingbury was located in Hall Close to north-west of churchyard..".

{4} An archaeological watching brief undertaken during flood alleviation works identified a number of probable medieval/post-medieval features to the west of the village and which may be associated with the possible manor.
A wall was found during topsoil stripping. No dating evidence was recovered, but the style of its construction suggest that it is either medieval or post medieval in date. It was a drystone wall constructed in random un-coursed style, constructed from squared pieces of Oolitic limestone and flint cobbles. It may have functioned as a land boundary, although the presence of an layer of occupation debris found in association with the wall, makes it likely that it was part of a more significant structure such as a building.
An antiquarian reference states that a medieval manor house existed northwest of the churchyard. This wall was situated to the NW of the churchyard and therefore it could have been part of the manor. This is obviously a very tenuous connection.
A further wall was recorded to the north east of this wall, constructed in a similar way, though much more damaged. Sherds of medieval Potterspury Ware were recovered from a deposit which sealed the wall. Similarly this wall may have originally functioned as either a boundary wall or as part of a building. Two pits were located with material within them that included burnt pebbles and generally had a burnt appearance. It is likely that they contained the debris created by a domestic fire, suggesting that settlement activity was located near here in the medieval period.

Earthworks identified during the course of the investigation included a probable rectangular fishpond, which on excavation was found to have likely been lined with clay.

Two platforms were also observed during the earthwork survey. They were between 0.5 and 1.0m higher than the floodplain, and so would have remained dry during most seasonal floods. Although it is possible that the natural topography was higher at these points, some landscaping was clearly visible on the northwestern ridges of both platforms. This indicates that the value of the platforms as flood defences has clearly been recognised, and accentuated by previous inhabitants of the village. It is suggested that they may have served as the ideal piece of raised, flat ground upon which to construct the manor house.

<1> Welsh, T., 1996, Kislingbury SP696596/696597 Earthworks, Ponds etc, (checked) (Notes). SNN42474.

<2> Welsh T.C., 1998, The Invisible Site Finder, (unchecked) (Document). SNN46596.

<3> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<4> Abrams J., 2003, Watching Brief: Kislingbury Flood Alleviation Scheme, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN103356.

Record last edited

Mar 21 2022 11:49AM