Monument record 1160/194/3 - Medieval pits, Moat House Hotel

Evaluation at the Moat House Hotel identified two large pits, possibly quarry pits, dating to the 13th-century and lying towards the rear of the plots of former properties fronting onto King Street. Later, post-medieval activity, included a well and stone-lined pit.

{1} Archaeological evaluation prior to development comprised the excavation of a single test pit. The uppermost surviving fills of two medieval pits were found at a depth of 1.2m below the modern ground surface. They occupied the north-eastern quarter of the test pit; to the west and south they had been either destroyed or at least disturbed by post-medieval and recent activity. The uppermost 400-700mm was investigated in a single sondage, but both pits continue to an unknown depth below this. A small primary pottery assemblage dates the upper fills of the pits to the C13th. More detail given.
A post medieval well lay in the north-western corner of the test pit. The shaft had an internal diameter of 1.1m and was lined with roughly squared small blocks of ironstone within a construction pit 1.6m in diameter. The well was cut through a pit containing a primary pottery assemblage dating to the late C17th to mid C18th, so it can be no earlier than late C18th in date. The upper levels of the well lining contained some C19th brick indicating that it had been refurbished at a later date.
The west side of a pit lined with courses of roughly squared small ironstone blocks lay in the south-western corner of the test pit. Function and date not established, but likely to be 18th - 19th century in date. Possibly associated with known cellars in this area.

{2} Two medieval pits partially excavated in the trial excavation were dated to the C13th. Pit F5 was excavated to a depth of 0.7m its near vertical, partly undercut sides and the shallow curvature to the south edge suggested that it was several metres in diameter. Within the subsidence hollow there was laid a surface of ironstone slabs on clean sand, this included a fragment of millstone.
The millstone was in coarse sandstone. It represents a quarter of a lower or bottom stone with a diameter of 700mm. The grinding surface was dimpled and had groups of parrallel radial grooves. Blackening on the grinding surface indicates that the stone was reused as a hearth stone, the blocking of the rynd hole with a trimmed cylindrical stone held in place by a hard black substance (possibly pitch) probably occurred at this time of reuse. Stratigraphically the stone may date to the C14th, and is no later than C17th.
In the north-west corner of the trench there was a small area of surviving medieval soils, a small pottery assemblage recovered from the surface of this layer is dated to 1250-1300 AD.

<1> Chapman A., 1998, Moat House Hotel, Northampton: Archaeological Desktop Assessment And Trial Excavation, p.7 (part checked) (Report). SNN47103.

<2> Chapman A., 2000-01, Excavation at the Moat House Hotel, Northampton, 1998, p.99 (checked) (Article). SNN103945.

Record last edited

Apr 11 2025 11:43AM