Monument record 1160/2 - Northampton's Saxon Defences

The line of Northampton's Saxon defences has been argued on topographical grounds with modern streets fossilising intra- and extra-mural streets of this period. Probably 10th century. Archaeological excavations have yet to confirm this alignment, although late Saxon defences have been found at Green Street to the south-west of the town. [See individual records for further details]

{2} Town of Northampton was encircled with walls of pre-Norman days, probably consisted of earth ramparts surmounted by wattled palisades.

{3} Lee suggests that late Saxon defences ran between line of following streets: Scarletwell St & Bath St; Bearward St & Silver St; Drapery & College St;Bridge St & Kingswell St. The defences presumably comprised an earthen bank & ditch; this has been investigated in a number of places but no definite archaeological confirmation of Lee's hypothesis has been found. To the south & west the river probably formed main defensive barrier; Fig 7 shows alignment of possible defences of Saxon town.

{4} On topographical grounds Lee argued that Scarletwell St & Bearward St & Drapery & Bridge St fossilised extramural street; likewise Bath St & Silver St & College St & Kingswell St intramural street; together form Saxon defensive perimeter; various attempts to test hypothesis have been ambiguous;

{5} Contemporary charter mentions "..hospites manentes extra fossatum.." which may refer to Saxon defensive line;

{6} Construction of Saxon defences between 900-975AD (based on pottery assemblages of St Neot's Ware and Northampton Ware). It is tempting to associate the original ditch, bank and timber revetment with the documented presence of the Danish army in Northampton in the early C10th, but while the pottery dating isn't inconsistent with this interpretation it must also be accepted that the dating is so imprecise that an origin later in the C10th and in particular a date after the Saxon reconquest of the Danelaw in 917 AD, cannot be excluded. The question of who constructed the original defences must therefore remain unresolved. The form of the late Saxon defences at Green Street may be typical of the circuit as a whole.

{7} Discusses the double-streets theory and presents conflicting evidence, including the location of early buildings which appear to lie between the double streets. Also discusses the development of the later Norman town and problems with its relationship to the Saxon town.

{8} An entry in the Domesday Book for Northamptonshire mentions 'Portland' in association with St Peter's Church and All Saints Church. Due to its location within the entry, after Rutland, and since the land is described in carucates, it has been argued that Portland can be associated with Stamford (the only other town in the area with both these churches). Welsh argues that Portland is actually in Northampton, which would mean that All Saints had a pre-Conquest foundation, and that late Saxon Northampton was a polyfocal settlement.

{11} A trench was excavated across Bath Street and land to the north in 1975 in an attempt to locate the Saxon defences. No evidence was identified.

{13} Analysis of the distribution of late Saxon and medieval pottery, the topographical evidence for the defensive enceinte itself, taken in conjunction with the behaviour of roads approaching the postulated gates are the most compelling [support of Lee's theory]. However, archaeological investigations have yet to confirm the Lee line. Remains of the late Saxon defences have so far only been positively identified at Green Street. Accepts that the Portland entry in Domesday Book does relate to Northampton and that All Saints was in existence in the late Saxon period, but places it outside the postulated east gate of the town.

{14} Briefly discusses the double streets theory with regards to the location of the Dominican Friary.

{15} Discusses a 13th-century date for the double-streets based on historical research contradicting Lee's theory that the streets fossilise the course of the Saxon defences. Earlier potential street patterns are explored.

<1> Lee F., 1953, A New Theory of The Origins and Early Growth of Northampton, p.164-74 (unchecked) (Article). SNN3419.

<2> Brown R.W., 1915, The Ancient Fortifications of The Town of Northampton, p.85 (checked) (Mention). SNN3533.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.46 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.326 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<5> 1100, Charter, BL COTT VESP E XVII F.10B (unchecked) (Document). SNN46020.

<6> Chapman A., 1998, Excavation of The Town Defences at Green Street, Northampton 1995-6, (checked) (Article). SNN39672.

<7> Welsh T.C., 1999, The Feasibility of The Alleged Late Saxon Defences, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN56734.

<8> Welsh T., 2007, Northampton and Portland: A Fundamental Question About Northampton in Saxon Times, (unchecked) (Discussion). SNN106003.

<9> Walker C., 2011, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Land at Castle Station, Northampton, (unchecked) (Report). SNN107932.

<10> CHAPMAN A., 1998, Excavation of The Town Defences at Green Street, Northampton 1995-6, (unchecked) (Report). SNN39652.

<11> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1976, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1975, p. 199 (Journal). SNN169.

<12> Mynard, DC, 1972, Northampton: Trial excavation on the probable line of the Saxon Town Defences, p.42 (Note). SNN41220.

<13> Williams, J H, Shaw, M, & Chapman, A, 2021, Anglo-Saxon Northampton Revisited, p. 53-4 (Article). SNN112908.

<14> Welsh, T C, 1997, Northampton alternatives: Conjecture and Counter-Conjecture (Article). SNN116875.

<15> Welsh, T., 2003, Northampton: The Double Streets and the Norman Town (Article). SNN103922.

<17> Welsh T.C., 2000-01, Documentary Sources for The Course of The Medieval Town Wall, Northampton (Article). SNN103958.

Record last edited

Aug 18 2025 11:39AM