Monument record 1121 - Coton

Settlement first documented in Domesday, with documentary evidence throughout the post medieval period and depicted on maps until the mid 19th century. The shrunken settlement is visible as series of earthworks. Medieval and post medieval pottery recovered.

{1} Settlement remains, formerly part of the hamlet of Coton, lie west and north of the existing houses. Though the name suggests a small, late settlement and the boundaries of its land suggest that it was once part of Guilsborough, Coton is listed as an independent manor in Domesday Book, with a recorded population of nine {2}. Nothing is known of its size thereafter until the late 17th century when eight householders paid the Hearth Tax in 1673 {4}. In the early 18th century Bridges {3} noted that there were 17 houses in Coton. By 1839 {5} at least 15 houses existed, and though some of these have been destroyed new ones have been erected in other places and the hamlet now consists of some 16 dwellings.

At the extreme north end of the street which once ran on to Guilsborough and to the north-east of Park Farm, two low, rectangular platforms edged by scarps may be the sites of former buildings. On the W. side of the street there are no buildings N. of Coton Manor except for a single cottage at the N. end of the hamlet.In 1839 there was a line of at least six cottages and a farm to the north at SP67327198, but all have now been destroyed. On the west side of the street there are no buildings north of Coton Manor except for a single cottage at the north end of the hamlet. However in 1839 there was a line of at least six cottages in the centre of the area (marked 'a' on the earthwork plan). On air photos taken in 1947, at the upper eastern ends of a series of long closes were the earthwork traces of former buildings. These earthworks have largely been destroyed by recent ploughing.

Fieldwalking when the area was under the plough has revealed large quantities of post medieval pottery near to the road, although at the north end (SP67357190) only medieval pottery of C12th date was recovered.

{6} NCCAP:SP6771/001, 004-8-10+15-18.

{8} (SP 673718). Cotton DMV - closes and hollow way found on AP in 1979.

{9} The above features {8} found to the north of the surviving earthworks.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 169/Site 9 (Series). SNN77381.

<2> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 338-9 (Series). SNN100368.

<3> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p. 537 (Book). SNN77325.

<4> 1673, Hearth Tax Returns, PRO, E179/254/14 (Document). SNN104887.

<5> Unknown, 1839, Map of Coton hamlet (Map). SNN112542.

<6> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<7> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, A/P (RAF VAP CPE/UK/1994 1370-1 1467-8) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<8> Brown AE, 1980, Aerial Photography 1980, p. 176 (Notes). SNN104579.

<9> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 1:10000 1977 (Map). SNN112944.

<10> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889750 (Archive). SNN112900.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:53PM