Monument record 387 - Church Charwelton

Deserted Medieval settlement with distinct earthworks and ridge and furrow marking the bounds of the village. A complex of ponds partly cuts a hollow way, suggesting that these post date the abandonment of the village, dating to circa late 15th Century. The whole site appears to have been abandoned by 1847.

{7} Also called Great or Lower Charwelton, was taxed with Little or Upper Charwelton. Rous in 1491 reported depopulation of latter (which has since recovered), and warned that Lower Charwelton was "in danger". Most of parish belonged to Biddlesden and Thorney Abbeys, whose lands leased in late C15th by Thomas Andrew; his son kept 1200 sheep here in 1547. Large pasture owned by Knightley of Fawsley maintained 500 sheep in 1547, while another freeholder had 300. Now there is only a church and one farm.

{8} Called "Church Charwelton" because the parish church, which still stands, was located here, and to distinguish it from Upper/Over Charwelton. The two villages are combined in most of the national taxation records. In 1086 Charwelton was divided into 4 manors. The village was mentioned by name in 1316. In 1491 John Rous recorded that Church Charwelton was in danger of depopulation. Bridges also claimed that the village was "in great measure depopulated at this time". He also said that the village was deserted in the C15th because of the civil war of the period, but in fact it is far more likely that enclosure for sheep led to its final abandonment. In 1417 Thomas Andrews acquired a small estate in the parish, and he and his son subsequently leased most of the rest of the land. By 1547 the third Thomas Andrews kept 1,200 sheep in the parish, whilst another 500 were kept there by the Knightley's of Fawsley, and a further 300 by another freeholder. The whole site was certainly abandoned by 1847, when it was known as Home Close, and belonged to the still-surviving Charwelton House.

{9} The pond at Blindpool Spinney (SP 5445 5495) is probably later and fed the mill stream which runs from SP 54525500 to SP 54915455.

{10} No change to field report of 5.5.70. AM survey correct.

{11} There are distinct desertion earthworks around Holy Trinity Church. Well preserved rig and furrow marks the bounds of the village. Earthworks of village and extensive fishponds surveyed at 1:2500. The earthworks are not in very good condition although under permanent pasture, the remains of two streets being the only recognisable features. The fishpond system is very complex although now almost dry; three sources of water were originally needed to flood them, these being the River Cherwell at SP 5405 5561, the tributary of the Cherwell at SP 5360 5595, and the Holywell Pond at SP 5403 5532.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP55NW7 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<2> 1316, Nomina Villarum, (unchecked) (Document). SNN8783.

<3> HEARNE T., 1745, Historia Regum Angliae, p.122-3 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN9565.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.36 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<5> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.319,324,326+331 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<6> 1847, Charwelton Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN9559.

<7> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, p.37 (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<8> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.43-46 site 1 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<9> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 05-MAY-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<10> Allanson, C D, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, F2 CDA 29-OCT-76 (Notes). SNN112955.

<11> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, RAF CPE/UK/1926 2059-60 16-JAN-47 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<12> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889579/889593 (Archive). SNN112900.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:39PM