Monument record 632 - Burnt Walls

Fortified enclosure of possible Iron Age, early medieval or medieval date and possible site of a medieval castle or moated manor, which lies in the south east of the parish immediately north of the A45 road against the Newnham parish boundary in the valley of a small east flowing brook. The remains consist of a roughly triangular enclosure bounded on the south west by a bank 2 metres high with an external ditch 2 metres deep and a low counterscarp bank beyond. There is a causeway across the ditch near the south end which may be an original entrance. At the south corner the ditch and counterscarp bank disappear and the main bank turns north east to follow the edge of the tributary stream. The site was allegedly "quarried" or robbed out in the post medieval period, prior to enclosure of the parish in 1802. An investigation carried out in 2001 by university College Northampton suggests that there may be five basic phases: a Saxon or earlier ringwork; a late Saxon or early Norman ringwork possibly identified with a burh or "stodfald" noted in charters; a 12th century castle, a possible later medieval period of destruction and evidence for stock keeping and ridge and furrow farming on the site, then finally post medieval robbing of stone from building remains. The site is a Scheduled Monument.

{2} Field called The Burnt Walls, c. 6 acres in size, it adjoins the north side of the Chester Turnpike Road. The traditional site of a 'House or Castle of John of Gaunt' (a) but 'Brande Walles' are
mentioned as cultivated ground as early as 1253 (b) Morton (a) speaks of 'ruined walls and foundation' but extensive quarrying has destroyed any evidence there may have been

{3} It is traditionally the site of a house/castle belonging to John of Gaunt.

{4} The references to John of Gaunt probably allude to the adjacent moated site [see Monument 634/1]. The remains of a pond bay which would have caused the streams to back up and isolate burnt walls. Fieldname: Burnt Walls Common; plan.

{5} Morton speaks of ruined walls and foundations but extensive quarrying has destroyed any evidence there might have been.

{6} 'Brende Walles' was cultivated ground as early as 1253.

{7} Burnt Walls in not mentioned in the Saxon charter of 944, indicating that the earthwork did not exist at this time.

{8} Surrounding field names from enclosure map.

{9} Map of 1500.

{10} Also field names survey.

{11} Survey plan.

{12} The triangular earthwork known as Burnt Walls, on the opposite side of London Road from John O’Gaunts’s Castle is often thought to have been an earlier hunting lodge. Although it is clearly earlier, it was not built until some time after the early 11th century and was probably abandoned in the 12th century, there is no evidence as to its function. Burnt Walls was defended on its western side by a bank and a ditch, and by the dammed water of a stream on the north and south.

{13} Five possible phases have been postulated for the earthworks at Burnt Walls, using evidence from the remaining earthworks:
I) A Saxon ringwork or some other precursor
II) A late Saxon or early Norman ringwork
III) A 12th century castle
IV) The keep and superficial buildings dismantled, creating the 'quarry edge' in the process. The enclosure is divided for stock and part cultivated
V) Post medieval robbing of building remains.

There is the possibility that a shortlived castle was built here in the C12th, overlying an early Norman motte. It would explain the supposedly quarried building remains along the south side, if the south-west corner is prioritised as the keep. That the defences east and north of this appear less substantial fits in with the designation of the courtyard or bailey.

{21} Archaeological watching brief undertaken during the construction of a replacement water main found a substantial wall immediately to the east of Burnt Walls. The wall may represent a water management feature, such as a dam wall, or part of a building.

{26} In 2001 a survey was carried out by University College Northampton. The survey suggested five phases of activity at the site. Phase I, a Saxon or earlier ringwork; Phase II, a Late Saxon or Early Norman ringwork possible associated with documentary references to a burgh or "stodfald"; Phase III, a 12th century castle or moated manor house; Phase IV, later medieval destruction of buildings replaced with stock enclosure and ridge and furrow; Phase V, post medieval quarrying or robbing for stone prior to about 1802. See Historic England archived Archaeolgy File AF00202 for details.

{23} Burnt Walls - The trench on the west is well defined; the south side of the camp shows signs of extensive excavation.
Resurveyed at 1:2500.

{24} This earthwork is situated on a low ridge at the confluence of two small streams overlooked by higher ground on all sides except the east. The main defence is a deep ditch with two flanking ramparts placed across the ridge and linking the streams, producing a roughly triangular enclosure. The slopes along the streams have been scarped and there are remains of ramparts broken by ridge and furrow ploughing on the north side and on the south side mutilated by extensive quarrying. A causeway across the western ditch probably marks the original entrance. To the east are remains of a pond bay which would have caused the streams to back up and isolate the site.
See annotated 25" survey.
A fortified enclosure of either Iron Age promotory type or medieval origin, the latter classification is strongly suggested by the straight west ditch and water engineering, the lowland situation and good state of preservation. It has similarities to Wesley Castle (SP 0215 8275) which was dated by excavation to 12th century and later but with traces of earlier possibly pre-conquest occupation.
The references to John of Gaunt in all probablility allude to the adjacent moated site (SP 56 SE 8).

{25, 27, 28, 32 & 33} In 1986 the Royal Commission on Historic Monuments in England carried out surveys of the site.

<1> STEADMAN S., 1991, Archaeological Evaluation at Burnt Walls, Daventry, (unchecked) (Report). SNN57051.

<2> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.339 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<3> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p.519+521 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10113.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP56SE2 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.72 site 35 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

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

<7> Steadman, S., 1993, Burnt Walls Development, Daventry Archaeological Evaluation Stage 1: Desk Based Assessment & Archaeological Walkover, p.3 (checked) (Report). SNN40390.

<8> 1765, Enclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN15426.

<9> 1500, Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN43424.

<10> 1932, Daventry Parish Field Names Map (NRO), (unchecked) (Map). SNN106403.

<11> BROWN A.E., 1991, Early Daventry (An Essay In Early Landscape Planning), (unchecked) (Book). SNN57948.

<12> Ballinger J.; Foard G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Daventry (Medieval/Post Medieval/ Industrial), Burnt Walls (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100501.

<13> Welsh T.C., 2001, Burnt Walls, Daventry, Northamptonshire SP585612: Analytical Interpretation Of Earthworks, (unchecked) (Report). SNN101250.

<14> Welsh T.C., 2001, SMR Report Form, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN101249.

<15> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.399 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<16> Lanning K.; Pearson V.; Walker D., 1995, Castles in Northamptonshire: A Resource Pack for Teachers, (unchecked) (Educational Resource Pack). SNN75536.

<17> Edgar W., 1923, Borough Hill & Its History, pp.48-9 (unchecked) (Book). SNN47010.

<18> Foard G.R., 1993, Borough Hill/Burnt Walls: Their Environs, (unchecked) (Report). SNN60102.

<19> Brown, A.E.; Gelling, M. & Orr, C., 1991, The Details of the Anglo-Saxon Landscape: Badby Revisited, (unchecked) (Article). SNN108637.

<20> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1973, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1972, p.26 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN8956.

<21> Sprenger, P, 2008, Dodford to Borough Hill Replacement Water Main: Archaeological Watching Brief (Report). SNN112676.

<22> COTT. MSS CLAUD D. 12 FO.9; (Uncertain). SNN62630.

<23> Phillips, AS, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 ASP 29-MAY-62 (Note). SNN112960.

<24> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F2 BHS 09-JAN-69 (Notes). SNN111907.

<25> Wilson-North, R, 1986, Field Investigator's Comments, F3 RWN 19-NOV-86 (Notes). SNN113045.

<26> Walsh, T., Undated, Burnt Walls, Daventry, Northamptonshire, AF00202 (Archive). SNN113054.

<27> Historic England, Undated, Burnt Walls/pencil survey, 947586 (Archive). SNN113056.

<28> Historic England, Undated, Burnt Walls, 947588 (Archive). SNN113055.

<29> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), AF0615738 (Archive). SNN112900.

<30> Historic England, Undated, PLAN OF BURNT WALLS (VCH/2/399) SEE ALSO AO60/381/1.POSSIBLE IA PROMONTORY FORT,MORE PROBABLY MEDIEVAL., P10579 (Archive). SNN113053.

<31> RCHME, Undated, RCHME: OS Revision Daventry, SP 56 SE, Northamptonshire, AF0622109 (Archive). SNN113051.

<32> Cocroft, W D, 1986, Field Investigator's Comments, R4 WDC 26-NOV-86 (Notes). SNN113052.

<33> Historic England, Undated, Burnt Walls/ink survey, 947584 (Archive). SNN113057.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:44PM