Monument record 2682 - Barton Thorpe, Thorp Juxta Barton

Thorpe deserted medieval hamlet (remains) Summary from record 2682/1/1: Possible mill buildings depicted on an early 18th-century map. Summary from record 2682/0/0: Fieldwalking survey has identified a stone spread and medieval pottery to the north of the deserted settlement of Barton Thorpe.

{1} Documentary references to the deserted medieval hamlet of Barton Thorpe. At Domesday it was held by Robert of Countess Judith, and gelded for 3 virgates. There were 4 villeins.

{2} Deserted hamlet of Thorpe (SP 865630) lies 1.5km SE of the village on the edge of the R.Nene, on gravel at 46m above OD. Thorpe is first recorded in Domesday Book when it was held by Robert of the Countess Judith and gelded for three virgates. The recorded population was then only four villeins. It was known in 1261 as Barton Thorp and later as Thorp juxta Barton and Thorp in parochia de Barton Comitis. Apart from the descent of the manor nothing is known of the history or date of desertion of the site. Of the three mills held in Earls Barton in 1086 two probahly belonged to the manor of Thorpe for in 1580 two watermills were recorded as being in the hamlet. Certainly by 1772 the site was completely deserted except for the existing mill, though the adjacent fields were known as Thorpe Closes.
The remains lie in pasture on either side of a lane leading down to the old mill. The S part of this lane was probably the main street of the hamlet for the rectangular closes lie on either side of it. There appear to be traces of at least nine closes, four W of the lane and five to the E. These are bounded by low banks and scarps, nowhere above 0.5m high, and are also sub-divided internally. Well-marked depressions at the ends of a number of the closes, edging the lane, are perhaps house-sites. At the NW corner of the site is a shallow hollow-way which leads S into the adjacent ridge-and-furrow, To the N of the earthworks, in a field now under permanent arable, ploughing has produced a scatter of stone rubble associated with quantities of medieval pottery, mainly of the C12th to C14th. This indicates that the settlement once extended in this direction. Imnmediately SW of the old mill three large depressions are probabably part of the water works of the mill and thus not directly associated with the hamlet.

{7} (SP 865630). An area was stripped, cleaned and planned during road construction, little material was recovered although there were several structures and an oven.

{8} Plan of earthworks fig.1.

{11} Fieldwalking identified a stone area and C12th to C14th pot sherds and a quern fragment of Neidermandig lava, and a hone stone fragment.

{12} (SP 865 630) Medieval and later objects of bronze, lead and iron, and a whetstone. Also a collection of medieval pottery sherds.

<1> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.354 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.42 Site 16 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77380.

<3> 1722, Enclosure Map?, (unchecked) (Map). SNN31722.

<4> Gover J.E.B.; Mawer A.; Stenton F.M. (Eds.), 1933, The Place-names of Northamptonshire, p.138 (unchecked) (Series). SNN5881.

<5> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.118 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100371.

<6> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.139 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<7> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1980, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1979, p. 171 (Article). SNN56490.

<8> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1981, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1980, p. 197-8 (Article). SNN100418.

<9> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889973 (Archive). SNN112900.

<10> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP:SP8662/004-5 & SP8663/012 (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<11> Steane J., Northampton to Wellingborough Expressway, (unchecked) (Report). SNN55308.

<12> Dix B.(ed), 1985, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1983-4, p.155 Earls Barton (checked) (Report). SNN100404.

<13> Miscellaneous Sketch Plans, (checked) (Plan). SNN55195.

Record last edited

Feb 7 2025 2:30PM