Monument record 4478 - Prehistoric Settlement (East Harlestone cropmark complex)

Extensive area of prehistoric settlement identified as cropmarks on aerial photographs. Part of the complex is a Scheduled Monument

{1} SP 711652. RCHM records cropmarks covering 24 ha on Northampton Sand. Main features include a 900 m section of ditched trackway, a short sectin of pit alignment, 2 Large rectangular enclosures exceeding 1ha area plus smaller enclosures and at least 18 ring ditches.
[RCHM plan]

{3}A series of enclosures on either side of an east-west track traceable for c.800 yards. To the north is a group of conjoined sub-rectangular enclosures with internal features. Just to the north east of this are portions of two pit alignments. To the south of the track are 3 sub-rectangular enclosures, all with circular and rectangular internal features. Attached to the south of the track is a large sub-circular feature. There are a number of ring ditches in the area.

Aerial photos NCCAP:SP7065/1-17+20-4+38-41; NCCAP:SP7165/1-19+38+39

{4} The Scheduled area comprises a pair of large rectilinear enclosures of Iron Age or early Roman (native) date. South west enclosure has a further ditched sub-division in its north corner and both contain other features – ring ditches and smaller subrectangular areas. To the north west, a further subrectangular enclosure of the same type is just discernable on the aerial photographs. No surface finds.

{7} SP 709650. Rectangular enclosures containing circles located by aerial photography during 1967.

{8} A large area of marks as described above, also old roads, and irregular enclosures, the whole centred SP 711651 from Hollowells Aps. Also visible on OS air photos.

There are no surface indications of these marks which fall on undulating arable land and their nature cannot be determined with any certainty from the air-photographs. The general impression is of a minor RB settlement area overlain by some medieval depopulation.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.97/Site 1 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76NW4 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> HOLLOWELL R., 1971, Aerial Photography and Fieldwork in the Upper Nene Valley, 6/13/site 1 (checked) (Journal). SNN106546.

<4> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1972, Plan: Harlestone, (checked) (Plan). SNN57584.

<5> Northampton Museum Topographical Index, Site List (unchecked) (Index). SNN1470.

<6> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1986, DOE Scheduled Ancient Monuments: Northamptonshire (Parts 5-8) (Schedule). SNN104787.

<7> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1967, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1966/67 (Aerial Photography), p. 32 (Article). SNN105839.

<8> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 BHS 6-MAR-1969 (Notes). SNN111907.

<9> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire II (Central), 889166 (Archive). SNN112900.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 6:46PM