Monument record 1160/226/3 - Saxon and Medieval Deposits, St Gregory's/Freeschool Street

Trial trench excavation established that discrete areas of Saxon and medieval archaeology had survived between extensive Victorian cellarage.

{1}Trial trench excavation established that the excavation of Victorian cellars had destroyed almost all the earlier site. Possible late Saxon cellar formed by straight-sided flat-bottomed pit from which single sherd pottery of 850+ recovered; two pits later inserted into floor of cellar which contained pottery of circa 1100+; large residual late Saxon element. At the northern end of the site Saxon and Medieval deposits survive c.1.8m below the present ground surface.

There was a large subrectangular pit containing animal bone; further pit; two small circular pits with vertical sides & flat bases; circular posthole with limestone packing; possible shallow trench. Partially robbed ironstone & mortar wall at west end of trench; appears to represent rear wall of building fronting onto Freeschool Street. Sparse dating evidence indicates mid C14-17th activity.

Trench C was excavated as far as a partially surviving boundary wall which appeared to be Victorian. [This coincides with the digitised tenement boundary.]

{4}Saxon and Medieval deposits survived on part of the site but the majority had been destroyed by Victorian cellerage.

{3}Trial trenches established that cellars had removed all archaeological levels. At the northern end of the site Saxon and Medieval deposits survive c.1.8m below the present ground surface.

{6}Saxon and Medieval deposits found on part of the site.{5}Saxon and Medieval deposits were preserved on part of the site.

<1> SHAW M.; O'HARA P., 1990, Archaeological Evaluation at Freeschool Street/Gregory Street, Northampton, (unchecked) (Full Report). SNN2072.

<2> O'HARA P, 1991, St Gregory's, Trial trenching, 1990, (unchecked) (Note). SNN49305.

<3> Pike A. (Editor), 1991, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter, p.62-3 (checked) (Newsletter). SNN2091.

<4> Nenk B.S.; Margeson S.; Hurley M., 1991, Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1990, p.178 (checked) (Notes). SNN3418.

<6> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, P122 (Article). SNN104441.

Record last edited

May 12 2021 3:49PM