Monument record 2290/0/1 - Possible Middle Saxon Settlement, Henslow Meadow

Anglo-Saxon settlement found during excavations in Henslow Meadow gravel pit included a wattle-lined waterhole.

{1} In 1971, the removal of overburden prior to quarrying to the west of the Iron Age pit alignment exposed a wattle-lined water-hole dug into the gravel. Both the water-hole and a nearby pit produced Anglo-Saxon pottery and a single radiocarbon determination from wattles in the water-hole gave a date of 1180+- 70BP (HAR 1185), which corresponds to an uncalibrated date range of 700-840 AD. The possibility that these features were part of a settlement of this period seemed likely and a larger area was stripped using a box scraper, but apart from an undated ditch no other features were found. At a later date, a number of postholes, which might have belonged to a timber building, were uncovered during quarrying to the north, but it was not possible to examine them any further.

{11} A timber structure which, after excavation was shown to be a well or waterhole, with a width of 3ft and depth of 3ft cut into gravel.

{12} Likely to be the same as SP 98 SE 26. If so, the GRN used in this reference is incorrect.

<1> Jackson, D., 1977, Further Excavations at Aldwincle in Northamptonshire 1969-71, 12/47-54 (Article). SNN74177.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.7/Site 18 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<3> Webster L.E.; Cherry J. (Editors), 1972, Medieval Britain in 1971, 16/158 (Notes). SNN5249.

<4> 1968, The Journal of Roman Studies, p.192 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN5250.

<5> Jackson D., 1970, Fieldwork and Excavation in North Eastern Northamptonshire, p.38-9 (unchecked) (Article). SNN4821.

<6> Brown, A E (ed), 1972, Northamptonshire Archaeology, 7/38 (Journal). SNN25623.

<8> 1971, Archaeological Excavations (Various Years), p.33 (unchecked) (Series). SNN15160.

<9> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.184/Site 18 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<10> Jordan, D, Haddon-Reece, D, and Bayliss, A, 1994, Radiocarbon Dates from samples funded by English Heritage and dated before 1981, p. 4 (Monograph). SNN112521.

<11> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1972, CBA Group 9 Newsletter: South Midlands Archaeology (2), P. 17 (Newsletter). SNN10022.

<12> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Inf E. Jones Northants SMR (Oral Report). SNN111577.

Record last edited

Feb 7 2025 2:28PM