Monument record 727/0/15 - Medieval 'backplot' activity, Towcester Racing Stables

Archaeological evaluation identified a medieval road which probably linked Watling Street with Easton Neston. A number of features suggestive of activity taking place to the rear of medieval burgage plots was also found.

{1} Trial trench excavation. Medieval pits and gullies of uncertain function recovered during excavation. One of the pits appeared to be a mortar mixer. Possible marshy deposit also recovered - marsh or pit fills? Medieval road - road runs perpendicular to Watling Street and may be heading to Easton Neston DMV.

{3} More extensive remains of this period were uncovered along the west side of Watling Street South. Boundary ditches, backfilled rubbish pits, dump deposits of domestic refuse and cess, all suggest activity to the rear of a burgage plot. The discovery of a mortar mixing pit suggests construction or repairs to a stone building fronting onto the street. The remains of a medieval road, possibly linking Watling Street and the deserted medieval village at Easton Neston were also uncovered in this area.

{4} Medieval features identified during evaluation at Towcester Racing Stables included spreads of domestic refuse containing cess and charcoal probably related to a building fronting onto Watling Street. Three pits were identified, of which two were very similar in shape and depth. One was certainly a mortar mixing pit, and it is possible that the other served the same function. The function of the other is not known. Four ditches of unknown purpose were also identified. In Trench 2: A stone surface was apparent for a length of 4.3m, consisting of sub-angular and sub rounded stones up to 0.15m across, and 0.9m deep. This surface is probably part of the road identified in trench 3.
Trench 3: A road surface made up of sub-angular and sub-rounded stones measuring between 0.02m-0.08m across. It was aligned approx north east - south west and was 7.4m wide with a marked camber on its north west side. Stone lines gutters were apparent along both edges, together with a 0.22m deep roadside ditch on its south east side. The fill of the latter produced 2 medieval potsherds. Part of the road had been repaired with an orange sandy gravel.

{5} Artefactual material of medieval date recovered during the evaluation of land to the rear of 6 and 8 Watling Street was restricted to a single sherd of Pottersbury ware, of AD 1250-1600 date. However a medieval date appears likely for the occupation represented by the identification of cess-rich, charcoal-flecked, ?dump deposits within trenches 1 and 2, and by the wall-footings and post-setting within trench 2. The nature and state of preservation of the cess-rich deposits appears identical to those encountered within trench 3 of the adjacent evaluation at Towcester Racing Stables, which yielded medieval ceramics. The remains appear to reflect activity within ditched and walled tenement plots to the rear of properties fronting onto Watling Street, including the disposal of domestic waste.

<1> WALKER G.T., 1997, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN49192.

<2> 1998, Medieval Archaeology (42), 147-148 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN55239.

<3> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, 3.5.2 (Report). SNN103132.

<4> THOMAS A., 1997, Towcester Racing Stables, Towcester: Archaeological Evaluation, p.7-9 (checked) (Report). SNN72935.

<5> Barber A., 1997, Land to the Rear of 6 & 8 Watling Street, Towcester: Archaeological Evaluation, p. 21 (Report). SNN40391.

Record last edited

Nov 29 2022 10:33AM