Monument record 1676 - Geddington

A royal manor in 1086, subsidiary to the royal manor at Brigstock. The Wednesday market was granted in 1248 together with a fair on St. Mary Magdalene. It must be assumed that the market was held in the centre of the village where the Eleanor Cross stands, with its lock-up beneath. It is possible that the tenement between this and the church may prove to have been infill on the former market place. There are extensive documentary records for the village, although most of them come from the period after the demise of the market.

{1} Brass rubbing of Henry Jarman and wife Anne (1480).

{2} This was a royal manor in 1086 but it was subsidiary to the royal manor at Brigstock. There is no reason to believe that it had any commercial functions until the Wednesday market was granted in 1248 together with a fair on St. Mary Magdalene.
There are extensive documentary records for the village, although most of them come from the period after the demise of the market. There are 18th century maps and earlier surveys and rentals which may mean there is a high potential for the detailed reconstruction of the tenurial pattern of the settlement within a detailed topographical framework. This might contribute significantly to the understanding of commercial activity in the settlement. It must be assumed that the market was held in the centre of the village where the Eleanor Cross stands, with its lock-up beneath. It is possible that the tenement between this and the church may prove to have been infill on the former market place. However the question does arise as to how such a market place will have been inserted into what must have been a long established village plan.
The village is heavily built up, to a large degree with historic building. Given the date of demise of the market it is highly unlikely that any standing structure survives which related to the marketing period, while these buildings largely preclude archaeological investigation. It must therefore be concluded that, in the absence of a detailed topographical reconstruction which can accurately define the extent of the market and its frontages and the lack of accessible 13th and 14th century deposits, that there may be very limited potential for archaeology to contribute the understand of commercial activities in medieval Geddington.

{6} Possibly not taken forward to Stage 2 survey and assessment.

<1> Brass Rubbings at Ashmolean Museum, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41806.

<2> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Overview, Appendix 2 (checked) (Report). SNN103118.

<3> HARKER M.J., 1956, An abridged history of Geddington, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Booklet). SNN69965.

<4> Wilson D.M. (Editor), 1976, The Archaeology of Anglo-Saxon England, (unchecked) (Book). SNN107011.

<5> Thornton M.J., 2005, Two Village Entrepreneurs in Late-Medieval Rockingham Forest, p.17-36 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109349.

<7> Ivens R.J., 2002, Archaeological Evaluation of Land at 18-24 Queen Street, Geddington, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN102317.

<8> Dawson M., 2002, Archaeology Desk Based Assessment: Land at 46 Queen Street, Geddington, Northamptonshire NGR SP8915270, (unchecked) (Report). SNN102217.

<9> Dawson M., 2004, Archaeology Desk-Based Assessment: Land at 49 Queen Street, Geddington, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN104701.

Record last edited

May 19 2015 11:54AM