Monument record 2540 - Site of a moat and unrelated enclosures, south of Harper's Brook

Site of a moat and unrelated enclosures on the South side of Harper's Brook. The site is now destroyed. The rectangular moat measured 45m x 50m and was entirely surrounded by a ditch 5.0m wide. Early Saxon pottery has been found in the enclosures.

{1} Soilmark visible on aerial photograph; Ditches?(+);NCC AP:SP9286/1-4(+);

{2} Moat and enclosures (SP 92358630),on the S side of the valley of the Harper's Brook,on boulder clay at 84m above OD.The area has been under cultivation for many years and all the earthworks have now been destroyed, but on air photographs taken before the destruction a rectangular area 45m by 50m,entirely surrounded by a ditch up to 5m wide,is clearly visible.There are traces of an internal bank on the W and N sides.No other interior features or entrance causeways are visible. In the surrounding area the air photographs also show traces of incomplete ditched or embanked enclosures,though none is actually attached to the moat. Some extend S into Brigstock parish.They are probably old field boundaries.

{4} [SP 92378629] Moat shown on AP 541/612/3058.

{5} Site under crop, not investigated.

{6}Earthwork now ploughed out. No surface finds indicative of occupation were found in the plough.
The present tenant farmer could not recall any substantial feature at this spot.

<1> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, Site 11 (Series). SNN77380.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP98SW3 (Index). SNN443.

<4> ORAL REPORT, S Willy 29-FEB-52 (Oral Report). SNN53287.

<5> Colquhoun, FD, 1961, Field investigators comments, F1 FDC 04-SEP-61 (Notes). SNN113017.

<6> Colquhoun, FD, 1969, Field investigators comments, F2 FDC 16-JUN-69 (Notes). SNN112950.

Record last edited

Feb 7 2025 2:29PM