Monument record 706 - Astwell

Remains of a medieval deserted village which includes the ruins of Astwell Castle a 15th century manor house. A small deer park was created in 1547 north of the manor and in the 17th century a formal garden was laid out. Land drainage has further damaged the site. 12th to 14th century pottery has been found in the area.

{2} Astwell was taxed with Falcutt; 35 paid 1301 Lay Subsidy; 57 paid 1377 Poll Tax. The manor passed to the Lovett family in 1471 who rebuilt the manor house and the village was probably cleared soon afterwards. Only 9 paid the 1524 Lay Subsidy. In 1547 a deer park was created probably on the site of the village. In 1606 a large house was added to the manor, arranged around a courtyard and south-west of the earlier building. A formal garden was laid out during the same century. 11 people for both Astwell and Falcutt paid the 1674 Hearth Tax. The manorial gardens were laid out in the C16th-C17th. Little remains of the village due to the varied use of the site since desertion. Land drainage has further damaged the site. 12th to 14th century pottery has come from the area.

{3} 4 houses recorded in early C18th.

{4} At Domesday in 1086 there was 1 manor and a population of 17.

{5} SP 615 430: Astwell Deserted Medieval Village. The manors of Astwell and Falcutt came together in the late 15th century. A deer park was created in 1547 and 300 sheep kept as Astwell Pasture.

{7} The site is visible in exceptionally good condition stretching from Astwell Spinney to Astwell House to the east of the stream, at SP 60 9442.

{8} Beresford's siting is to manorial earthworks. SP 64 SW 3. A large area of disturbance exists at the indicated area. Identifiable features include a disused mill race, two mill ponds - both still water-filled, and enclosures visible on air photos south west of the mill but now no longer extant. Quarrying, drainage ditches, spring washouts and some infilling account for most of the other features.

Nowhere were earthworks indicative of desertion seen.

{9} Astwell appears to have remained in existence until after 1377. By 1524 only 9 people there payed the Lay Subsidy, PRO E179/155/146. In 1547 Thomas Lovett created a deer park, probably on its site. Bridges (a) writing circa 1720 recorded only 4 houses at Astwell including the manor and the mill, so the village was certainly abandoned by this date. The remains are in poor condition. (See illustration card for plan).

<1> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1976, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1975, p.197 (checked) (Journal). SNN169.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.85 site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<3> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.214 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<4> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.344 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<5> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, p.35 (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<6> PRO series E179, PRO E179/254/14 (Document). SNN115882.

<7> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, AP's (RAF CPE/UK/1926 3224, 5 16.1.47) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<8> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 10-FEB-1970 (Notes). SNN111541.

<9> Annotated Record Map, RCHME Inventory - SW Northants, 84 plan (Map). SNN112961.

<10> Aerial Photograph, AP (CUAP NU94 ANT71) (Photographs). SNN112974.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:45PM