Monument record 1189 - Barnwell

Barnwell was a large and relatively wealthy polyfocal agricultural village in the middle Nene valley. Some earthwork remains of Medieval settlement are visible beyond the extent of the modern village, suggesting previous shrinkage.

{1}Unlocated find of june 1889 of saxon decorated glass bead found near Barnwell Castle

{2} Settlement remains (TL 050848 - 049840), formerly part of the villages of Barnwell St. Andrew and Barnwell All Saints, lie behind the existing houses on both sides of the main north - south village street. A large number of house sites, between the older houses, have been built over in recent years, but some of the ends of the older closes and building platforms still exist beyond the modern gardens. For example, at TL 049846, there are considerable earthworks of old closes and building sites, and at TL 049843, there are remains of former houses.

{3} Brass rubbing of Christopher Freeman and wife and children - 1607.

{4} Source also relates to initial summary text.
Though undoubtedly not having been allowed to develop for long enough to have gaining true urban status, Barnwell was clearly moving in that direction judging from the range of trades which are recorded there. Only a few occupations are mentioned in most of the numerous medieval charters and rentals, including: circa 1248-1286 Ralph Smith, William carter, Reginald carter, undated: Robert son of Theobald lanar (woollen draper), 1304-5 : Geoffrey smith and Geoffrey the carter. The detailed rental of the manor prepared by the Abbey in the year of Barnwell’s recovery from Berenger provides a significant list of trades: Free tenants: Ralph smith, Henry the glover; Vigate holders: Geoffrey smith, Geoffrey carter; cottagers: Beatrice le gardener, Matilda lot(ar)te?, Andam le ropere, Isabell textator (weaver), Walter bercar (shepherd), …. Coopertore (roofer), Pagan le wollemonger, John smith, Adam sutore (cobbler), Thomas le parmenter (furrier), John sutore (cobbler), Richard cissore (tailor). Significantly almost all these named artisans hold as cottagers and have less than an acre of land in the field. In all there were 25 cottagers listed and it is likely that many more of them, whose names were not related to a trade were still involved in some form of commercial or craft activity.
At this time there were in the Ramsey manor 4 virgate and 34 half virgate holders in addition to a small number of free tenants. The high of the tenants of the manor who were cottagers is likely to reflect to a degree the impact of the ongoing development of the village as a commercial and craft centre, though the number of cottages had only declined to 18 with 2 further vacant cottages in 1380, together with 3 full virgate tenements, 30 half virgate and 4 quarter virgate tenements and one vacant. In c1413-1422 there were 21 cottages and 34 virgates.

<1> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1973, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1972, 8/23 (Journal). SNN8956.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.15/Site 7 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77379.

<3> Brass Rubbings at Ashmolean Museum, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41806.

<4> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Overview, Appendix 2 (Report). SNN103118.

<5> Carlyle S.; Stevens C., 2002, Desk-Based Assessment and Trial Trench Evaluation at 11 Main Street, Barnwell, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN102127.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 3:07PM