Monument record 1160/3/32 - Northampton Town Defences, Green Street

Archaeological investigation at Green Street identified the medieval town defences.

{1} Three trenches dug on land to west of Green Street across the supposed line of former town defences; related features include possible clay bank or rampart apparently of medieval or earlier date. At one point the bank is surmounted by a stone wall 1.85m wide. The upper levels of ditch or ditches lying to the west contained medieval pottery. Two seemingly contemporary ditches were cut at later date and were probably filled no earlier than C17th suggesting that they could date to English Civil War.

{2} Recording action at Green St, Northampton revealed the medieval town wall and Saxo-Norman stone revetment of a bank.

{3} In the 3rd phase of development of the defensive works the gateway was taken out of use when a substantial new wall was constructed on top of and at the front of the existing bank; the wall ran right across the gateway and the bank was reinstated behind the wall. The new town wall was 1.85m wide and built largely in ironstone, with good courses of roughly squared facing stones and a rubble core bonded with clay. A stone spread in trench 2 may have formed the base of a new revetment wall at the front of the bank. The Saxon ditch was replaced by a ditch up to 25m wide (but not possible to tell whether this represents a single massive ditch or a series of recuts. At less than 2m wide this length of town wall did not form a formidable barrier, but the defences at this location are likely to be typical of the circuit as a whole.

Andy Chapman, 1995, ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF LAND AT GREEN STREET NORTHAMTPON (Report). SNN72323.

<1> Chapman A, 1995, SMR Report Form, (checked) (Notes). SNN49465.

<2> Chapman A, 1996, SMR Report Form, (checked) (Notes). SNN49469.

<3> Chapman A., 1998, Excavation of The Town Defences at Green Street, Northampton 1995-6, (checked) (Article). SNN39672.

<4> Welsh T.C., 2000-01, Documentary Sources for The Course of The Medieval Town Wall, Northampton, (unchecked) (Article). SNN103958.

<5> CHAPMAN A., 1998, Excavation of The Town Defences at Green Street, Northampton 1995-6, (unchecked) (Report). SNN39652.

Record last edited

Dec 15 2023 3:02PM