Monument record 155 - Astwick

Deserted medieval village and moated manor

{1} Identified as the manor of one and three-fifths hides with a recorded population of nine, listed but not named in Domesday Book as pertaining to Evenley. Thereafter no record of its population exists and in all the national taxation returns it is listed with Evenley. The banks and ditches of Evenley Old Town resemble the site of a moated manor house. (Refers to a plan of the earthwork shown as 'fishponds' on OS 6")

{2} First mentioned in 1195

{3} Noteworthy in that is layout suggests that it has been replanned at some time before abandonment. The earthwork remains suggest that the village once had an L-shaped plan and was later altered; a hollow way with associated medieval house sites cut obliquely across an earlier more regular arrangement of closes. The assumed earlier phase of the village, of L-shaped plan, is well preserve on the east side of the stream but on the west has been almost toally destroyed by ploughing. The east part is divided into numerous rectangular closes and risge and furrow survives to the south. Several of the larger closes in the centre and south have been overploughed with ridge and furrow but it is not clear at what stage in the village's development this took place. The damaged west part also appears to have had a rectangular layout to judge from the few remaining scarps and banks now only a few centimeters high.

The later phase of the village consists of 2 hollow ways. The main one enters from the south and follows the general alignment of the early plan before turning north west and then west over the stream. It survives as a shallow depression climbing the valley side to the west of the stream. It remained in use after the other hollow way (155/0/3) as a low scarp blocks the junction between the two.

The second main hollow way branches from the first at a point just east of the stream and curves east across the older closes. A low scarp blocks the east-west hollow way at its junction with the main one and this indicates that the latter remained in use after theother hollow way had been abandoned.

Many well-preserved house sites survive, marked by limestone rubble walls up to 1m high and several showing internal divisions into rooms. Among the most notable are those on the north of the main hollow way where at least 6 buildings are arranged around a large courtyard. To the south of these is another group of buildings lying to the north of and within a broad hollow. Isolated house sites exist beside the hollow ways and situated in small closes. In the damaged west part at least 2 house sites have avoided destruction.

Fragments of ridge and furrow are visible north, south and west of the site of Astwick village (SP572438, 561340 and 569340) though only as single furlongs. Ridge and furrow also survives in the closes around and within Astwick village. Seen on fig.53


{4} Mentioned by name in 1316

{5} Abandoned by 1839. Fieldnames: Old Town and Stoneheap Ground.

{6} Described in 1720 as a village of 6 houses but was referring to farms scattered throughout the lands of the former village. Astwick 'appears to have been formerly a large town, as may be seen from the ruins which are called The Old Town.'

{7} Astwick DMV (SP 570342) was distinctly visible in 1963. It was abandoned in the period 1450-1700. In 1510 there were still at least 15 houses there. In 1720 the overgrown site of the manor house, ruins called "The Old Town", and 6 farms are recorded.

{10} Sketch and sections.

{11} DMV shows clearly to the SW of 'Fishponds".

{12} The remains of the DMV still under pasture are in fairly good condition. See annotated 25" survey.

The earthwork to the NE of the DMV is a large ditched enclosure probably manorial in origin; there are no foundations within.

{13} No change since report of 22/4/70 to either DMV or ditched enclosure. Surveys transferred to 1:2500 MSD. Although there is no confirmatory evidence, either on the ground or on air photographs, the enclosure almost certainly marks the site of the original manor house; there is certainly no trace of a fish-pond here.

<1> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.341 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<2> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p.53 (unchecked) (Series). SNN5881.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.52/Site 9 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<4> 1316, Nomina Villarum, (unchecked) (Document). SNN8783.

<5> 1839, Evenley Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN8848.

<6> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.168 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<7> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, p.35 (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP53SE1 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<9> JOURNAL OF THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SO, 24/161 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN8840.

<10> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, Drawer: Earthwork 2 (unchecked) (Archive). SNN115.

<11> Royal Air Force, 1940s, RAF Vertical Aerial Photographs, RAF CPE/UK/1792 Oct 46 3197-8 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN105266.

<12> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 22-APR-70 [Not accessed by NHER] (Notes). SNN110341.

<13> Allanson, C D, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, F2 CDA 08-OCT-76 [Not accessed by NHER] (Notes). SNN112955.

<14> Historic England, Undated, PLAN OF MANORIAL EARTHWORK ASSOCIATED WITH ASTWICK DMV, P10581 [Not accessed by NHER] (Archive). SNN112956.

<15> Royal Air Force, 1940s, RAF Vertical Aerial Photographs, RAF VAP CPE/UK/1929, 3176-7; 106G/UK/1488, 4264-6 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN105266.

<16> Vertical Aerial Photograph, CUAP AFH92-5, AGV39, BBK 77-80 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<17> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1955 (Map). SNN112944.

<18> Historic England, Undated, PLAN OF MANORIAL EARTHWORK ASSOCIATED WITH ASTWICK DMV, P10581 (Archive). SNN113042.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:14PM