Monument record 300 - Falcutt

Shrunken medieval village. Linked with Astwell from the late 15th century and called a hamlet in 1720 the population was halved in the 19th century. A chapel is recorded in 1535 but was demolished by 1655. Some earthworks remain and scattered building debris and pottery is visible in ploughsoil.

{1} Falcutt was one of two separate settlements within the old parish of Falcutt and Astwell and was for a long time associated with Astwell, now also deserted. It may once have had its own associated land unit separate from that of Astwell, but this is not proven. Falcutt is first mentioned in 1220 but is probably included silently in Domesday Book under Astwell which is listed as a single manor with an unusually large recorded population of 17. It is mentioned by name in the Nomina Villarum of 1316 but is usually combined with Astwell in the national taxation records. In 1301 the Lay Subsidy lists 35 taxpayers in the two places and in 1334 they paid a total of 6os. 9d. Tax. The 1377 Poll Tax Returns record that 57 people over the age of 14 lived at Astwell and Falcutt. In 1524 10 people in Falcutt paid the Lay Subsidy and by 1674 only 11 people in the two places paid the Hearth Tax. Bridges recorded four houses at Astwell in the early 18th century but described Falcutt as only a hamlet. By the early 19th century Falcutt consisted of five or six houses. Whellan stated that it contained 15 houses in 1841, but this presumably included several outlying farms. Whellan also noted that there were only nine houses in 1871 as several had been demolished in the previous 20 years. Certainly in 1864 only the existing Falcutt House and the cottage to the S. remained. In 1535 a chapel was recorded at Falcutt, but it had been demolished by 1655. The 1864 map records the name Chapel Close for the paddock W. of Falcutt House. However, it is entirely covered by ridge-and-furrow and no possible chapel site is visible.
Immediately south east of the garden of Falcutt House is a paddock with earthworks within it. These include at least one old hedgebank, several relatively recent drainage ditches and some shallow areas of quarrying. No former house-sites can be clearly identified, though it is said that in about 1900 it was possible to see stone-rubble foundations of at least two cottages which had stood in the south west of the paddock alongside the lane to Falcutt House.
On the north edge of the site, immediately east of the modern farm buildings are the fragmentary remains of at least three rectangular closes, bounded by low banks and scarps badly damaged by later tracks and quarrying. The easternmost close has ridge-and-furrow within it and all are edged on the north and east by normal ridge-and-furrow of open-field type.

{8} (SP 595430) Falcutt village was linked with Astwell from the late 15th century called "hamlet" in 1720 but no population was stated. The population was halved in the late 19th c. Church and site of Manor house remain with scattered farms and modern housing away from site which is reported as "poor" and very shrunken (6 or fewer houses) in 1958.

{10} Allison and Beresford make reference to a church and manor house at Falcutt but these obviously refer to Helmdon. Falcutt is now reduced to one house and 5 or 6 cottages. Disturbance at SP 595 428 seems to be a mixture of village earthworks, quarrying and drainage, whilst in the plough about SP 595 427, scattered building debris and pottery marks the sites of several homesteads. The site of the demolished chapel was not ascertained, "Chapel Field" is to the immediate W of Falcutt House, but it is entirely rig and furrow.

{11} In 1535 a chapel was recorded at Falcot, or Fawcote, and in 1655 the parliamentary commissioners certified that it was demolished.

{12} Falcutt is now reduced to one house and 5 or 6 cottages. Disturbance at SP 595 428 seems to be a mixture of village earthworks, quarrying and drainage, whilst in the plough about SP 595 427, scattered building debris and pottery marks the sites of several homesteads. The site of the demolished chapel was not ascertained, "Chapel Field" is to the immediate W of Falcutt House, but it is entirely rig and furrow. The church and Manor House referred to by authority {8} are obviously those at Helmdon (SP 590431 ).

{13} No change since report of 13.4.70.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.83/Site 5 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p.47 (unchecked) (Series). SNN5881.

<3> 1316, Nomina Villarum, (unchecked) (Document). SNN8783.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.214 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1833, First Edition Ordnance Survey 1 Inch Map Series (Sheet 61), (unchecked) (Map). SNN47304.

<6> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.502 (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<7> 1864, MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN14971.

<8> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, p.39 (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<9> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1976, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1975, 11/197 (Journal). SNN169.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP54SE2 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<11> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p. 737 (Book). SNN77327.

<12> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 13-APR-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<13> Tittensor, A J, 1977, Field Investigators Comments, F2 AJT 04-MAY-77 (Notes). SNN115541.

<14> Aerial Photograph, APs (OS/74/257/077-8) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<15> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, APS(RAF/CPE/UK/1926 3221-22) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<16> Aerial Photograph, A/P (CUAP ANT72) (Photographs). SNN112974.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:18PM