Monument record 665 - Lower Radstone

Earthworks of a deserted village, probably Lower Radstone.

{1} {2} Documentary sources: there were formerly 2 villages, of Upper/Over and Lower/Nether Radstone. In 1720 Upper Radstone comprised '19 houses and a population of 100' and 'footsteps of the old demolished town [Lower Radstone] were still remaining'. The two villages were always taxed together. In 1086 Domesday: 1 manor and population of 21. 30 paid the 1301 lay subsidy, 11 paid the 1524 lay subsidy and 21 paid the 1673 hearth tax. There were 128 in the parish in 1801.

The earthworks suggest that the village had, in its final stages, a plan based on a T-shaped arrangement of streets. The main feature is the E.-W. hollow-way. At the W. end where it is close to the stream it is up to 1.5 m. deep but as it reaches the junction with the other main hollow-way it has been damaged by later drainage works. Beyond this junction it continues E., partly as a terrace-way the up-slope side of which is 1.5 m. high, until it fades out near the E. end of the fishpond. On both sides of this terrace-way are foundations of stone-rubble structures up to 0.25 m. high, presumably the sites of former houses. Behind these are fragmentary remains of former closes. On the W. side of the main hollow-way is another group of similar stone-rubble foundations with, to the N., two sunken hollows which are also probably the sites of buildings. To the N. again is a large subrectangular enclosure. On the E. side of the hollow-way there are scoops cut into the hillside. These may be connected with the undoubted quarry pits further E. Elsewhere on the site are rectangular closes, bounded by low scarps or shallow ditches, some of which have ridge-and-furrow within them. Towards the W. end is another stone building, possibly a long house, with a larger rectangular structure to the W.

There is no indication that the village ever extended to the S. of the main E.-W. hollow-way in the S.E., but the fishpond appears to have been cut through closes S. of the terrace-way.

{3} 3 fishponds; field names: Chapel Field and Floxham Pools

{11} Radstone: SP 605405, House platforms on slope, yields of 12th-15thc pottery in field above dry fish ponds. DMV? (No evidence found to support DMV site either from VCH or Place Names of Northants. No air photo cover available for this area).

{12} Desertion identified in a field called 'Chapel', and cent to SP 60134048 to the N of three fishponds known as 'Floxham Pools'. Much other nebulous disturbance flanks the old road to Radstone. Baker(a) notes both upper and Lower Radstone and this would seem to be the site of the latter. A farm worker said his grandmother in her young days came here to see the ruins of the house where her mother was born, this suggests a desertion date
of c1850.

See annotated 25" survey.

The CRO Northampton hold no early maps relating to this area.

{13} Fish Pond cleared out and flooded to form new feature.

{14} Recent aerial photography (14a) shows this site, with extensive parching across the site, including one obvious building and indications of others

Aerial photos: NCCAP: SP6040/1-22

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.124 site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.191 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<3> OS 25 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN14742.

<4> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.610 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<5> 1958, OS 6 INCH MAP, SP64SW (checked) (Map). SNN60106.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP64SW6 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<7> 1260, PRO C132/24(6), (unchecked) (Document). SNN108190.

<8> PRO series E179, PRO E179/155/31 (Document). SNN115882.

<9> PRO series E179, PRO E179/155/144 (Document). SNN115882.

<10> PRO series E179, PRO E179/254/14 (Document). SNN115882.

<11> Smith, D., 1969, Fieldwork and Observation in South and Central Northamptonshire, p. 2 (Article). SNN8978.

<12> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1-BHS-1970 (Notes). SNN111541.

<13> ORAL REPORT, L S Reviser (G F Sparkes 11.8.77) (Oral Report). SNN53287.

<14a> Aerial Photograph, NMR, SP 5940/16-17; SP 6040/19 (Photographs). SNN112974.

<14> RCHME, 1996, RCHME Aerial Reconnaissance, 24-JUL-1996 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN113969.

<15> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, A/P (RAF VAP CPE/UK/1926, 5220-2) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<16> Aerial Photograph, A/P (CUAP BLE24-6, AML64-5, AWN74) (Photographs). SNN112974.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:44PM