Monument record 407 - Newbold

Deserted medieval village site. No visible remains survive but finds have included 12th century pottery, a gilded buckle, a pewter spoon and stone foundations suggesting a large building at the west end of the village. The settlement was probably deserted by 1535 and the area converted to pasture. The site was initially levelled and ploughed in 1967 with deeper ploughing in 1971 which disturbed building foundations.

{1} Earthworks of DMV seen on air photos.

{4} SP 517 606: DMV Newbold (in Catesby) perhaps converted to pasture by 1535, only 2 cottages remain.

{6} Not mentioned at Domesday, but probably included as part of Catesby, which is recorded as having an unusually large population of 25. It is first noted separately in 1203, and its position and name ('new building') suggests that it originated as a secondary settlement of Catesby. In 1301 it was listed together with Catesby as having 13 taxpayers. Part of the village held by Catesby Priory was perhaps destroyed and its site converted to pasture in 1495 at the same time as the two Catesby villages (Upper and Lower). Indeed some of the 14 houses removed in that year by the prioress of Catesby may have been at Newbold. In 1491 the expulsion of 60 people from Catesby, again by the priory, may also refer to Newbold. Certainly by 1535 the priory held a 'Newboldefeld' suggesting that it was by this time already a sheep-walk.
Until 1966 the extremely fine earthworks of the village remained complete. They were then ploughed and completely destroyed, but from air photographs taken before ploughing it is possible to ascertain the main features of the site. Previously they had consisted of a large sub-rectangular block of emabanked closes and house platforms bounded by a hollow way on the north west. The earthworks were bounded by a bank and outer ditch on the south-east and north-east sides. After ploughing, finds included 12th century pottery, a gilded buckle, a pewter spoon and stone foundations suggesting a large building at the west end of the village.

{8} In 1966-7 Newbold Grounds was completely levelled and ploughed. Scatter and pottery recovered.

{9} Newbould (SP517606). This site was levelled and ploughed. Areas of daub showing as grey patches were very obvious in the dusty soil. They occur in a pattern showing where crofts stood. Much C12th pottery, a gilded buckle in good condition and the bowl of a pewter spoon were found. The village was sheltered by a shoulder of limestone outcrop, now showing as stone debris. West of the village there were foundations of faced limestone of a large building also associated with C12th sherds.

{10} At Newbold (SP517606) the sites of crofts are still visible after levelling. A sketch survey has been made and sherds have been collected.

{11} Fieldwalking in April 1989 by M.Holmes. A large amount of medieval pottery from the area of former village earthworks. Discrete groups of pottery associated with limestone fragments and dark soil. The latter may reflect sub-surface features. Possible Saxon material was also included.

{12} Fieldwalking April 1989, prior to land becoming set aside pasture. Large amounts of medieval pottery and small amounts of Saxon, suggesting a longevity of site not previously recorded.

{13} Early-middle and late Saxon pottery as well as medieval pottery; fieldwalking by G Cadman.

{16} The earthworks visible on the air photos were situated on a south facing hillside and are now almost completely ploughed out. There are no surveyable remains.

<1> St.Joseph J.K.S., 1966, Uses of Aerial Photography in Archaeological Evaluations, p.196 (unchecked) (Report). SNN60108.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP56SW7 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> Beresford M.W., 1954, The Lost Villages of England, p.366-68 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN7102.

<4> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, p.43 (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<5> Steane J., 1974, The Northamptonshire Landscape, p.174 (unchecked) (Book). SNN5137.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.42-3 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<7> Laughton J., 2001, Catesby in The Middle Ages: an Interdisciplinary Study, p.7-32 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102519.

<8> Mrs G Brown, 1967, Archaeological Sites in Northamptonshire Destroyed or Badly Disturbed During 1966 and 1967 (Note). SNN115492.

<9> Wilson D.M.; Gillian Hurst D. (Editors), 1968, Medieval Britain in 1967 (12), p.203 (checked) (Notes). SNN55155.

<10> Rahtz P. (Editor), 1969, Deserted Medieval Village Research Group (Vol.17), p.7 (checked) (Annual Report). SNN62319.

<11> HOLMES M, 1989, Newbold DMV, Catesby, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49084.

<12> CADMAN G.E., 1990, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Note). SNN50199.

<13> NAU, 1989, Newbold DMV, Catesby Parish: Catalogue and Summary of material recovered by field survey, April 1989, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN57075.

<14> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.119 (unchecked) (Article). SNN104441.

<15> 1967, Deserted Medieval Village Research Group (Vol.15), p.4 (unchecked) (Annual Report). SNN29346.

<16> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 BHS 08-JAN-1969 (Notes). SNN111907.

<17> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p. 17 (Series). SNN5881.

<18> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, AP (RAF VAP CPE/UK/1994,1281-2) (Photographs). SNN104890.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 2:32PM