Monument record 854 - Caswell

Site of deserted medieval village with no surface indications of desertion at the postulated site.

{1} 12 paid lay subsidy in 1301

{2} Belonged to the Green family. In 1509 Sir Nich. Vaux of Harrowden enclosed and converted 300 acres to pasture and destroyed 5 houses - apparently whole hamlet. In 1547 Caswell used by John Hickling's flock of 2000 sheep. Factory on site since 1958.

{3} Farm house said to have been moated

{4} Deserted medieval village, first recorded in 1200

{5}Towcester's neighbouring hamlet of Caswell disappeared in 1509, when Sir Nicholas Vaux of Harrowden (who had married Green’s heiress) destroyed five houses, perhaps the whole hamlet, and converted 300 acres to pasture.

{6} 2 houses in early 18th century, one is probably present farm

{8} Probably older than 1200 and listed under Greens Norton in Domesday.

{9} Noted in 1316

{10} {11} DMV shown on maps of 1726 and 1767

{12} Little in the way of earthworks survive, though some fishponds (?) are visible south of the factory.

{13} There are no surface indications of desertion at the postulated site. The fishponds are extant but it cannot be confirmed that they were related to the early hamlet.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.71/Site 5 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, p.36 (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<3> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.69 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77328.

<4> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p.43 (unchecked) (Series). SNN5881.

<5> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, 3.5.2 (unchecked) (Report). SNN103132.

<6> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.238 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP65SE4 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<8> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.304 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<9> 1316, Nomina Villarum, (unchecked) (Document). SNN8783.

<10> 1726, Map of Greens Norton, (unchecked) (Map). SNN12756.

<11> 1767, MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN47426.

<12> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, A.P.'s (R A F CPU/UK/1994 40 86,7; 13.4.47) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<13> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 23-JAN-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:47PM