Monument record 1226 - Probable Medieval/Post Medieval moat and associated settlement

Earthwork remains of a moated site and fishponds plus possible manor house, the latter possibly represented by scattered stone. Aerial photograph evidence and finds of Medieval pottery suggest that the settlement may have extended beyond the area of the surviving earthworks.

{1} The site is situated on a spring line on the N. side of a shallow valley draining E. Nothing is known of its history beyond the fact that the field in which it lies was already an isolated old enclosure in 1776, lying on the E. side of an open area known as Brown's Wood Green (map in NRO).

The site has been misinterpreted in the past, notably by the OS who saw it as a large rectangular depression with an almost square island in the W. corner and a small circular one to the S.E. This situation is clearly the result of relatively recent destruction. The small island stands on a rectangular platform slightly above the level of the bottom of the surrounding ponds. It appears that there was originally one large island occupying the S.W. of the site and that the small island is the only fragment of the E. part that has survived to its original height.

This large island was asymmetrically placed, partly perhaps to provide a fishpond on the N.E. side, but also because of the natural topography of the small valley in which the site lies. The wide part of the pond occupies the lowest part of the valley. The water was retained in the pond and around the island by a massive dam on the S.E. side, up to 2 m. high. Below the dam and parallel with it is a long narrow pond, possibly once two ponds, which turns N.W. at its N.E. end, parallel with the N. side of the moat. The site is in poor condition, having been used as a nursery garden, but large quantities of medieval sherds have been revealed, particularly from the destroyed S.E. part of the island. Medieval pottery, mainly of Potterspury type, has also been noted within the gardens of the bungalows to the N.E. of the moat, suggesting that the medieval settlement extended beyond the surviving earthworks. This is confirmed by air photographs taken before the northernmost bungalow was constructed, showing a low scarp, perhaps the boundary of a former close, extending from the moat to Watling Street.

{2/6} The earthwork, situated parallel to the Watling Street, comprises a moat, the NE and SE arms of which are especially large to form a fish-pond. Scattered stone on the large island probably indicates the remains of a building, and the smaller island seems to have been of no importance. Beyond the dam to the SE are the remains of modern cress beds.

{3} NCCAP:SP7642/1-7+23-24;

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.119/Site 8 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP74SE16 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<4> Taylor P., 1992, Fishponds Report 1992 (Report). SNN1339.

<5> OS 25 INCH MAP (Map). SNN19289.

<6> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments (Notes). SNN111907.

<7> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, RAF VAP CPE/UK/1926, 2243-4, 4224-5 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:54PM