Monument record 1679/0/53 - Late Saxon and Medieval settlement, Station Road

Area of settlement on the edge of the open fields; the earliest medieval activity comprised a number of quarry pits which gave way to a complex of domestic structural elements focussed around a yard in use during the 12th-14th centuries. Later medieval features included a pottery kiln. Summary from record 1679/0/55: Possible sunken-featured building identified during trial trench evaluation Summary from record 1679/0/56: Saxon pits and ditches identified during trial trench evaluation Summary from record 1679/0/57: Anglo-Saxon enclosure ditch, the line of which was used as a boundary to the open fields until enclosure

{1} In December 1995 an evaluation was carried out in an area previously stripped as part of the major excavation on the Duchy of Lancasters land. Three evaluation trenches and selective excavation of late features. A probable medieval building, possibility a squatter dwelling on part of the common waste. This building had drains, a stone lined pit and an oven. No evidence for other medieval or post-medieval buildings fronting the A6 road. But the line of the original Kings Manor Lane was discovered to the south of the site. The medieval features were cut into a series of deposits comprising pits, ditches, a possible "sunken featured building" and amorphous layers, which from the amount of St. Neots Ware within these features, appear to date from the late Saxon/medieval period. The earliest feature appears to have been used as an open field boundary, during the medieval period, until the fields were enclosed in 1839.

{2} A probable Medieval building, possibly a squatter dwelling on part of the common wasteland, was investigated along with associated drains, a stone-lined pit and an oven.

{4} Excavation sites 3 and 8 were located on the western side of Windmill Banks. Many of the features had been truncated. Late Saxon features included a sunken featured building and a ring gully. The earliest medieval activity was a series of large deep pits, probably originally dug as quarry pits and either backfilled in one operation or sporadicaly with rubbish. Pottery from the pits dated to the 12th-13th centuries. This activity gave way to a complex of structural elements which were difficult to interpret but were nevertheless associated and comprised a well-used pitched limestone yar bounded by a drain on the north side. Two oven bases were identified; an Edward I penny (dating to AD 1278-1307) was found in one along with abundant cereal remains. The southern element of the settlement focus was a small rectangular structure and possibly related surfaces, drains and walls. A probable pitched stone hearth lay within it. The division between settlement and agricultural land was clearly marked by a significant boundary ditch aligned north-east to south-west across the north-western corner of the excavation area.
During the 14th to mid-15th century centuries the domestic activity was replaced by more industrial activity, with the construction of a pottery kiln and associated ditches and limestone surface.

<1> Spandl K., 1996, Land off Station Road/North End, Higham Ferrers, Northants: Archaeological evaluation report (Report). SNN72375.

<2> Horne, B (editor), 1996, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (26), p.43 (unchecked) (Notes). SNN40064.

<3> Thacker, G., 2003, Land Opposite Windmill Banks Higham Ferrers, (unchecked) (Report). SNN103313.

<4> Hardy A.; Charles B.M.; Williams R.J., 2007, Death & Taxes: The Archaeology of A Middle Saxon Estate Centre at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN106006.

Record last edited

Feb 11 2019 2:57PM