Monument record 811 - Perio

Site of a deserted medieval village. Perio may have originated as the primary settlement of Southwick with the later perhaps being a daughter-hamlet. Perio and Southwick were taxed together in 1316. Earthwork remains are still seen along the edge of the River Nene. 13th to 14th century pottery has been found here. Perio Mill and Barn are the only remaining buildings. Other evidence visible are cropmarks and ridge and furrow. The village may have been deserted around 1350-1450.

{1} The deserted medieval village of Perio is first referred to in 1220. It presumably originated as the primary settlement of what is now Southwick parish, the village of Southwick perhaps being a daughter hamlet. Neither village is mentioned in Domesday. It was taxed with Southwick in 1316. Date of desertion unknown but possibly 1350-1450. There are various fieldnames.
At the centre of a rectangular platform, pottery probably dated to the C13th or C14th was discovered as well as a rubble floor and tile. Location of features marked as 'a' on earthwork plan Fig.95. (Excavations were carried out by local school children.) At the point marked 'b' on the earthwork survey plan the edge of the hollow way was found to be defined by a low limestone rubble wall.

{2} Perio Mill (TL 045 924, OS 6") and Perio Barn (TL041 918) are the sole remains of the former village of 'Pirho'.

{6} A small amount of 13th-15th century pottery including Brill, Potterspury and Lyveden Stanion ware sherds were recovered from the dredgings and from the sides of a nearby new drain. Some stonework, possibly parts of walls had been exposed in a borrow pit.

{5} Perio. Desertion date uncertain - perhaps 1350-1450. TL 040 924. Remains poor in 1963.

{8} TL 043 923: Soil and crop marks, rather fragmentary but certainly of DMV type, are scattered over a stretch of about 1/2 mile, from TL 043 918 to TL 045 927 with the Nene and a stream on their east side and ridge-and-furrow on the west.

{9} No surveyable remains but quite a lot of disturbance typical of medieval desertion in the fields alongside the river from the Mill southward to circa TL 044 918 (of TL 09 SW 13) the fields on the west side of the road (centred at TL 043 926, 043 924 and 042 922 respectively) are shown on a 17th century Estate Map in possession of Colonel Caperon of Southwick Hall as 'North Perio Close', 'Middle Perio Close' and 'South Perio Close'. These fields have been cultivated and show no DMV disturbance.

{10} The 3 'Perio Close' fields under plough; quite extensive Romano British scatter (See TL 09 SW 19) but only a few medieval (Lyvedon) sherds.

{11} Perio DMV. Not very large as little to see, or perhaps ploughed out by modern and early post-medieval ploughing? Allison et al 1966, 44; RCHM 1 (1972), 87-8 with plan.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.87 Site 13 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, TL09SW9 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p.207 (unchecked) (Series). SNN5881.

<5> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<6> Cadman G., 1993-4, Southwick, p.189 (checked) (Note). SNN104222.

<7> CADMAN G.E., 1993, Perio DMV, Site Inspection Report, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN53687.

<8> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, APs CPE/UK/2109 4231-2 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<9> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 06-APR-1970 (Notes). SNN110341.

<10> GSL, 1970, Field Investigators Comments, F2 GSL 28-OCT-1970 (Note). SNN112507.

<11> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, Southwick/Site 1 (Database). SNN102279.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 2:58PM