Monument record 87/1 - Hinton Manor

Moated enclosure and fishpond (site). Remains of buildings and a large courtyard have been observed during various episodes of levelling

{1} Moated Site and Fishpond, lay in the angle between two streams immediately east of the village, on clay at 118 m above OD. The area has now been completely levelled.

The moated site consisted of a small rectangular island, 30 m by 40 m, apparently raised slightly above the adjacent ground and surrounded by a deep ditch 12 m wide. The ditch on the north-east side and part of the island had already been damaged before destruction, by the realignment and deepening of the original stream. On the south-west side was a larger rectangular island 60 m by 45 m, surrounded by a ditch 10 m wide with a causewayed entrance in the centre of the short N.W. side. There was a large external bank to the south-east of both islands. In the surrounding area was a number of shallow ditches and low banks, some defining former paddocks or closes, others apparently for water. To the north-west of the site (SP 561371) was a small rectangular embanked pond, probably contemporary with the moated site and perhaps for fish.

During the destruction of the site in 1970 short lengths of foundations and what appeared to be a central courtyard were discovered as well as traces of a large timber building lying over an earlier structure. Pottery of the 14th century was found. Much more pottery of the same date had been found previously (local inf.). Nothing is known of the history of the site.

{2} Moated manor house, in "a spot .....situated in a triangle formed by two streams, one from the north west, the other from the west, which unite and flow south-east".

{5}{6} After bulldozing of the site, short lengths of foundations and what appeared to be a large central courtyard were uncovered. A large timber building with a floor of pitched stone was superimposed on an earlier kitchen with a round oven and adjacent hearths. Much orange-glazed tile was found near the hearths and the pottery was 14th century.

{7} Creation of a cricket pitch in 1988 involved ploughing a 30x30m square in the centre of the site to create a flat surface. Half the area contained archaeological features which were cleaned and recorded. The features included dry-stone walls of limestone and a conduit. A pitched stone yard surface was largely undamaged by ploughing due to its smooth and tightly packed surface. A scatter of limestone and pottery turned up by ploughing. The presence of stone slates in the material would suggest that much of this material was rubble from walls already robbed to ground level.

{9} Site visible NE of the village.

{11} Descheduled.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.91 site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.416 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<3> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.175 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP53NE18 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> 1971, Medieval Archaeology (15), 15/163-4 (checked) (Journal). SNN4977.

<6> 1971, Archaeological Excavations (Various Years), p.34 (unchecked) (Series). SNN15160.

<7> WILLIAMS A., 1988, Note on a watching brief at Hinton in the Hedges, (checked) (Note). SNN51810.

<8> Harcourt, J, 1980-1, Hinton in the Hedges, Northants (Report). SNN112738.

<9> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, APs (RAF 6585 6 4/9/1930) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<10> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 09-APR-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<11> English Heritage, 1992, English Heritage Schedule of Ancient Monuments Amendment Sep-1992 (Report). SNN70261.

<12> Historic England, Undated, Hinton Manor, P30245 (Archive). SNN115527.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:53PM