Monument record 112 - Lyveden (Potters Lyveden)

Deserted medieval settlement originally identified from earthworks situated along both sides of Lyveden Brook. Field investigations in 1969 found most of the earthworks had been levelled by ploughing. Fieldwalking prior to the excavations between 1965-72 found most of the site was covered by a pottery scatter which included some pottery wasters. The excavations identified part of the settlement layout which included areas of industrial specialization for example iron smelting, iron working (SP 98 NE 51) and pottery production. The pottery industry at Lyveden was in production from the 13th century until the 15th century. It was first documented in 1312 and excavations have identified potters' crofts which comprised workshops with associated features including quarry pits, clay puddling pits and waster pits and kilns (SP 98 NE 47-48, SP 98 NE 50-51). The kilns were of Musty's type 4a but there was also a possible clamp kiln (SP 98 NE 49). Two tile kilns were also recorded (SP 98 NE 49, 52). Some of the buildings were constructed using kiln debris including kiln bricks. The settlement was depopulated from the early 15th century until the mid 16th century probably due to emparking.

{1} Setting & history are unusual & difficult to explain; village lay at junction of 3 medieval parishes; documents indicate existence of Great/Upper Lyveden & Little/Lower Lyveden & Potters Lyveden & Lyveden Doundelign; only detailed record of population is provided by a subsidy list dated 1296-1334 in which 27 names are listed but whether they lived on this site is not known; date of desertion also unknown but probably took place in C15th with final clearance in C16th when Treshams emparked land surrounding their manor house; village appears to have been a pottery-making centre in late C13th; 10 tenants including descriptions of potters are mentionad in court roll of 1406 which is latest known documentary proof of village's existence

{2} Details of documentary survey given;

{3} Part of Lyveden seems to have been known as Potters Lyveden in documents of 1285-1344.

{10/11} The DMV of Lyveden, located at SP 983859 to SP 984861 by a dense scatter of sherds and rubble and confirmed by an AP of St Joseph , was part-excavated at SP 984861 following a proton-magnetometer survey. Finds included a probable pottery-kiln and "several hundredweights" of pottery and tiles, all evidently of one period (late 13th-early 14thc). The finds are in the Westfield Museum, Kettering

{12} Excavations of two sites at SP 98418602 (workshop) and SP 98448611 (kiln) continued this year under the direction of Mr G Ryall for MOW.He said some 15 or 16 kilns exist in the immediate area.


{14} Interim excavation report.

{15} Further excavation on associated kiln sites for DOE.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.72-74/Site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> STEANE J.M., 1967, Excavations at Lyveden, 1965-1967, p.2-37 (unchecked) (Interim Report). SNN107291.

<3> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p.178 (unchecked) (Series). SNN5881.

<4> Wilson D.M. (Editor), 1976, The Archaeology of Anglo-Saxon England, (unchecked) (Book). SNN107011.

<6> Stean J.M.; Bryant G.F., 1975, Excavations At The Deserted Medieval Settlement At Lyveden, Northants. (Article). SNN100220.

<7> Rahtz P. (Editor), 1971, Medieval Village Research Group (Vol.19), p. 30 (Annual Report). SNN58317.

<8> BRYANT G.F.; STEANE J.M.; ADAMS B.N., 1969, Excavations at the Deserted Medieval Settlement at Lyveden, p. 22-34 (Interim Report). SNN43437.

<9> Dyer C. (editor), 1973, Medieval Village Research Group (Vol.20/21), p. 34 (Annual Report). SNN60223.

<10> STEANE J., 1965, Deserted Medieval Village Research Group (Vol.13), P. 29 (Annual Report). SNN57877.

<11> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, UC 26 (St Joseph 4.4.57) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<12> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 BHS 12-SEP-69 (Notes). SNN111907.

<13> 1973, Medieval Archaeology (17), p. 206-7 (Journal). SNN35139.

<14> 1971, Journal of The Northampton Museum and Art Gallery (9), P. 3-94 (Journal). SNN57862.

<15> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1970, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1969 (Medieval), P. 17-19 (Article). SNN30971.

<16> Morton, A., 1974, Public Record Office Museum Pamphlets No. 6: Men of Letters, E179/155/31 (Booklet). SNN106295.

<17> 1967, Medieval Archaeology, P. 308 (Note). SNN15422.

<18> Wilson D.M.; Gillian Hurst D. (Editors), 1968, Medieval Britain in 1967 (12), p. 203 (Notes). SNN55155.

<19> 1970, Medieval Archaeology (14), p. 203 (Journal). SNN38358.

<20> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1966, Bulletin of the Northamptonshire Federation of Archaeological Societies (Medieval), p. 16-7 (Article). SNN19313.

<21> Brown A.E. (Ed.), 1967, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1966/67 (Medieval), p. 26-7 (Article). SNN26725.

<22> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1969, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1967/68 (Migration and Early Medieval), p. 24-6 (Article). SNN7652.

<23> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1972, Archaeology in Northamptonshire, 1971 (Medieval), p. 46 (Article). SNN3540.

<24> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1973, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1972, p. 21-3 (Journal). SNN8956.

<25> 1969, Northamptonshire Past and Present (4/4), p. 240-50 (Journal). SNN27488.

<26> Department of Environment, 1969, Archaeological Excavations, 1968, p. 26 (Note). SNN110875.

<27> Ministry of Public Buildings & Works, 1970, Archaeological Excavations, 1969, p. 31 (Report). SNN47013.

<28> Department of Environment, 1973, DOE Archaeological Excavations 1972, p. 98-9 (Series). SNN105605.

<29> 1910, Northamptonshire Notes and Queries, Northamptonshire Notes and Queries 3, 1910-11, 131 (Uncertain). SNN55657.

<30> 1971, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (1), p. 18-9 (Newsletter). SNN58359.

<31> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1972, CBA Group 9 Newsletter: South Midlands Archaeology (2), p. 17 (Newsletter). SNN10022.

<32> Williams J.H., 1973, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (3), p. 21 (Journal). SNN896.

<33> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1974, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (4), p. 12 (Newsletter). SNN17341.

<34> 1973, Medieval Archaeology (17), p. 183 (Journal). SNN35139.

<35> 1974, Medieval Archaeology (18), p. 220 (Journal). SNN37093.

<36> 1974, DOE Archaeological Excavations 1973, p. 92 (Series). SNN108940.

<37> Evison, V I, Hodges, H, & Hurst, J G (eds), 1974, Medieval pottery from excavations: studies presented to Gerald Clough Dunning, with a bibliography of his works (Book). SNN116479.

<38> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire I (North-East), 890482 (Archive). SNN113295.

<39> Historic England, Medieval Village Research Group Archive - measured drawings, 620494 (Archive). SNN114857.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:13PM