Monument record 491 - Newnham

First mentioned in a Saxon charter of 1021-3. Probably a secondary settlement to Badby. It is not mentioned at Domesday in 1086 but possibly known as Chelversdecote at this date. Medieval settlement remains can be seen as seen as earthworks. The village is shown to have had two foci, each centred on a green. The draft enclosure map of 1765 indicates that there was a third around another green, which was later enclosed and the surrounding buildings demolished when the area was emparked.

{4} Newnham SP 581 596, first recorded by a charter of 1021-3. Possibly a secondary settlement from Badby. Not mentioned in Domesday, though may be Chelverdescote (population 13). 1377 52 Poll Tax payers (age 14+). 1674 82 households paid Hearth Tax. 1801 302 resident in the parish. Complex village form attributable to i) early woodland settlement ii) polyfocal origin iii) deliberate planned extensions iv) amalgamation of Chelverdescote and Newnham. Earthworks are fragmentary but suggest rectangular closes and hollow-ways. [RCHM plan].

{5} Three areas of archaeological potential are identified in the management plan. AP1 encompasses the area between Church Street and Mounts Lane and comprises possible medieval building platforms, AP2 lies to the east of Mounts Lane and south of Weedon Road and AP3 lies either side of Poets Way- both contain earthwork evidence of medieval settlement.

{14} The village is shown to have had two foci each centred on a green. The draft enclosure map of 1765 indicates that at this time there was a third around another green. This green was later enclosed and the surrounding buildings demolished when the area was emparked.

{15} Unidentified building on the Badby Road;

<1> BROWN A.E., 1991, Early Daventry (An Essay In Early Landscape Planning), (unchecked) (Book). SNN57948.

<2> TAYLOR C.C., 1977, Notes and News: Polyfocal Settlement and The English Village, p.189 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN39571.

<3> 1977, Medieval Archaeology (21), 21/ 189 (Journal). SNN62222.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 147-149 (Series). SNN77381.

<5> West Northamptonshire Council, 2022, Newnham Conservation Area Appriasal and Management Plan (Report). SNN114829.

<6> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p. 26 (Series). SNN5881.

<7> HART C., 1970, The Hidation of Northamptonshire, p. 35-7 (Paper/s). SNN76961.

<8> SKELTON P.N., 1972, The Chronicles of Newnham (Uncertain). SNN58712.

<9> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, (RAF CPE/UK/1994 1273-4) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<10> 1765, Northants Record Office Draft Enclosure Map of Newnham 1765 (Map). SNN15417.

<11> PRO series E179, PRO E179/155/28 E179/254/14 (Document). SNN115882.

<12> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 322 (Series). SNN100368.

<13> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889657/890729 (Archive). SNN112900.

<14> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1977, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1976, p. 189 (Report). SNN723.

<15> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

May 7 2025 10:16AM