Monument record 1694 - Abington deserted medieval village

The site of the medieval village of Abington, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. The creation and expansion of a park associated with Abington Abbey in the 17th and 18th centuries caused the desertion of the village, a process which was complete by 1742. Earthworks remains are concentrated along the eastern side of Park Avenue South.

{1} Alternative interpretation of deserted village earthworks at Abington Park;

{2}Deserted village of Abington (c. SP 775615). First mentioned in Domesday (recorded population 18). 1334 tax (51 s. 3 1/4 d). The manor passed to the Bernard family in 1415 who erected the manor house [SP 76 SE 14]. Before 1665 a small walled park lay E. of the manor house, and its construction may have involved the removal of houses. The manor was brought by the Thursby family in 1669. A map of 1671 shows 24 houses, four other buildings and four empty closes. The 1674 Hearth Tax lists 33 householders in the village. By this time the Thursby family had begun emparking the village, enlarging the existing park, building a tower and dovecote with a well head dated 1673. Tow cottages (Archway cottages) were designed as a formal entrance to the village. Between 1736 and 1742 the park was extensively remodelled and the village removed. The expansion of Northampton has subsequently covered all but the N part of the park. The remains of the village are in poor condition, the main feature being a hollow-way running S.E. from Archway cottages. About half-way along south-west side of hollow way is well-marked rectangular platform; probably site of building but devoid of structures on 1671 map; At its south-east end the hollow way fades out into an area of indeterminate scarps and banks with no coherent form, though the map of 1671 certainly shows a number of buildings here. Further south-east and south of the modern playground are further low earthworks. These again appear to lie in an area which in 1671 was occupaied by a group of houses and gardens though the earthworks have no apparent relation to the buildings or property boundaries depicted on the map.

{3} Abington first mentioned; population of 18;

{4} Deserted medieval village of Abington 1st mentioned in Domesday when population was 18; Richard holds 4 hides in Abington; land for 8 ploughs; in demense there is 1 plough with 1 serf & 12 villeins with 5 bordars have 2 ploughs; mill renders 20s. & 20 acres meadow; was worth 40s. But now worth £4; in Abington Humphrey de Basingburne has 4 hides;

{5} In 1334 inhabitants paid 51s.3d.in tax; relatively small amount for area;

{6} Manorial surveys of 1665 & 1669 record village of 4 farm houses & 20 cottages & 4 other tenants of charity;

{7} Manorial surveys of 1665 & 1669 record village of 4 farm houses & 20 cottages & 4 other tenants of charity;

{8} 24 houses shown as well as another 4 buildings which may also have been dwellings; 4 empty closes suggest that village may once have been somewhat larger;

{9} In 1674 there were 33 householders listed;

{10} "….village of 33 houses….";

{11} Process of removal of village completed between 1736 & 1742; all houses shown in 1671 removed & replaced by parkland with only manorial buildings church remaining;

{12} Civil parish ceased in 1900; now part of municipal borough; most of parish was under permanent grass; parish population in 1891 only 121 but grown to 553 by 1901 as result of industrial expansion of Northampton; in 1931 population was 8958;

{13} Further speculation about alternative origin for earthworks in Abington Park; report emphasises difference between surviving earthworks & documentary evidence relating to deserted village with particular reference to map of 1671; survey notes that several earthwork features are on a different alignment to village plan of 1671 & therefore must represent a monument which is entirely independent from village;

{14} Omitted from Allison et al's list of deserted villages of 1966; classic example of late desertion connected with making parkland around great house; documentary evidence shows great changes to village by mid C18th with roads in & out being severed or displaced & reduction in number of houses which continued through C19th also.

{19} Survey of earthworks & plan

{23} Several building sites aligned parallel to hollow way; 7 or more buildings evident aligned north-west x south-east; fragments of stone & walling evident on some parts of earthworks; buildings had presumably been removed by 1671 when map was produced; At the south-east end there is an area of complex & prominent earthworks probably representing tofts & crofts; earthworks in good condition but young trees present on vulnerable areas & fragments of stone walling evident in some places;

{25} A small trial trench was excavated at SP 7752 6162 across one of the house platforms of Abington DMV. Potsherds and gravel pathways were discovered 0.3m below modern ground surface, the work was discontinued and the trench backfilled.

{27} Analyses the northern parts of the village earthworks and interpreting them as a possible earlier manor site.

{28} Survey and interpretation of the DMV earthworks to the south-east of Archway Cottages.

<1> Welsh T.C., 1996, Abington Park, Northampton, DMV Core Structure, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN3603.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.68+207-12 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> Welsh T.C., 1998, The Invisible Site Finder, (unchecked) (Document). SNN46596.

<3> Thorn F.; Thorn C., 1979, Domesday Book: A Survey of The Counties of England, (unchecked) (Series). SNN1170.

<4> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.35 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<5> PRO series E179, PRO E179/155/3 (unchecked) (Document). SNN115882.

<6> 1665, Clayton Survey, (unchecked) (Document). SNN41662.

<7> 1669, Survey, (unchecked) (Document). SNN41663.

<8> Grant V., 1671, Map of Abington (NRO Map 4524), (unchecked) (Map). SNN41646.

<9> 1674, Hearth Tax Returns, PRO E179/254/14 (unchecked) (Document). SNN41647.

<10> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.400-405 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<11> 1742, Abington Estate Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN41652.

<12> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.65-69 (part checked) (Series). SNN100371.

<13> Welsh T.C., 1997, Earthworks at Abington Park, Northampton: Fourth Season of Investigation 1997, (checked) (Report). SNN40104.

<14> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, p.171-72 (checked) (Report). SNN41605.

<15> Field E.E., 1930, Abington Village, p.175-7 (unchecked) (Article). SNN54841.

<16> Field E.E.; Thompson B., 1930, The Parish of Abington, p.147-54 (unchecked) (Article). SNN59008.

<17> Brown A.E., 2001, Abington Park, Earthworks, (unchecked) (Plan). SNN101343.

<18> Cadman, G., 2004, Abington DMV and Open Field Earthworks: Rapid Site Inspection, (unchecked) (Note). SNN107111.

<19> Daniels, R (Editor), 2000, Medieval Settlement Research Group (Vol.15), p. 30 (Report). SNN113756.

<20> Welsh T., 1994, Boundary Bank, Abington Park, Northampton (Notes). SNN111250.

<21> Welsh T.C., 1996, Correspondence, (unchecked) (Plan). SNN56454.

<22> Welsh T.C., 1993, Correspondence, (part checked) (Report). SNN3432.

<23> Cadman G.E., 1994, SMR Report Form, (unchecked) (Report). SNN50048.

<24> Welsh T.C., 1995, Correspondence, (unchecked) (Report). SNN57804.

<25> Dix B.(ed), 1986-7, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1985-6, p158 Northampton (Report). SNN100334.

<26> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, A/P (RAF VAP V58-RAF-1122 0185-7) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<27> Welsh T.C., 1995, Abington Park: third evaluation (Report). SNN55256.

<28> Welsh, T, 1994, Abington Park Linear Earthwork (Note). SNN116809.

Record last edited

Apr 29 2025 9:15AM