Monument record 1160/4 - Saxon 'Palace' complex, east of St Peter's Church

Saxon royal 'palace' complex with a possible minster church, cemetery and chapel was identified during excavations to the east of St Peter's Church, Northampton. The original 'palace' was a timber hall comprising a main hall with annexes at the east and west ends. The building had an overall length of 29.7 metres and a width of 8.6 metres. It was possibly constructed during the mid 8th century. Traces of timber buildings to the northwest of the palace were also recorded, and were probably of the same date. The palace was replaced by a large stone building during the early 9th century which was rectangular in plan and measured 37.6 metres by 11.4 metres. The building was subsequently extended to the west increasing its overall length to 43.4 metres. Two mortar mixers associated with the construction of the palace were also noted. There was also the eastern part of a possible minster church identified immediately east of St Peter's Church. Graves were excavated to the east of the palace. The palace was abandoned possibly during the early 10th century.

{1} Saxon royal palace complex with a possible minster church, cemetery and chapel was identified during excavations to the east of St Peter's Church, Northampton. The orignal palace was a timber hall comprising a main hall with annexes at the east and west ends. The building had an overall length of 29.7 metres and a width of 8.6 metres. It was possibly constructed during the mid 8th century. Traces of timber buildings to the northwest of the palace were also recorded, and were probably of the same date. The palace was replaced by a large stone building during the early 9th century. This was rectangular in plan and measured 37.6 metres by 11.4 metres. The building was subsequently extended to the west increasing its overall length to 43.4 metres. Two mortar mixers associated with the construction of the palace were also noted. There was also the eastern part of a possible minster church identified immediately east of St Peter's Church. Graves were excavated to the east of the palace. The palace was abandoned possibly during the early 10th century. (2-3)

{2}Large timber hall constructed 30m x 9m; apparently laid out using measure almost equivalent to modern foot; main hall of double square about 54ft x 27ft with central opposing doorways in long sides; annexes about 21ft square attached at each end of hall; earthfast upright posts were set into continuous foundation trench; sophisticated structure which may have employed bays & roof of single span. Traces of at least four successive post-in-trench buildings found north of timber hall but slots considerably shallower & buildings smaller; possibly in part contemporary with hall although some may be earlier. The hall most closely paralleled to palace structure at Yeavering; timber palace at Northampton would appear to date to C7th.

A rectangular stone hall replaced the earlier timber structure; 37.5m x 11.5m; well laid foundations & superstructure probably bonded with mortar; two rooms added to west of building later extending it another 6m; this stone palace is without parallel in England; its C8th date suggested by evidence implies that hall probably went out of use during Danish occupation of Northampton in late C9th or early C10th. C8th date for stone hall confirmed by discovery of sceatta in context probably post-dating construction of hall but predating western extension.

{3} Documentary search to support the hypothesis that the stone hall was later than previously thought and was of local rather than Royal usage: that is was built for late Saxon or early Norman local personages.

{4} SP 75116036; SP 75086030; SP 74966033. Saxon Palace complex and Saxon and medieval urban deposits in the centre of Northampton. Scheduled.
During the middle Saxon period a major Palace and Ecclesiastical complex comprising two churches flanking the east and west ends of a royal hall occupied the central area of the town. In the late Saxon period the palace complex was replaced by tenements.

{5} Paper discussing possibility that the complex of middle Saxon structures may have been part of a minster rather than a royal vill.

{7} Reassessment of the radiocarbon dates using modern methods and calibration curve. It can be suggested that rather than the date of AD c750 suggested in the 'palaces' report, it is more likely that the use of the timber hall complex at Northampton lay between the later 7th and later 8th century, cal AD c660-770.

<1> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Denham V., 1985, Middle Saxon Palaces at Northampton, p.15-16 (checked) (Report). SNN420.

<1> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Denham V., 1985, Middle Saxon Palaces at Northampton: Microfiche 1, p.17 (checked) (Microfiche). SNN106748.

<1> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Denham V., 1985, Middle Saxon Palaces at Northampton: Microfiche 2, p.15 (checked) (Microfiche). SNN106749.

<1> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Denham V., 1985, Middle Saxon Palaces at Northampton: Microfiche 3, p.17 (checked) (Microfiche). SNN106750.

<1> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Denham V., 1985, Middle Saxon Palaces at Northampton: Microfiche 4, p.20 (checked) (Microfiche). SNN106751.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.332 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<3> Welsh, T., 2010, The "Saxon Palaces" in Northampton and Their Post-Medieval Context, (unchecked) (Document). SNN107120.

<4> Department of Environment, 1989, Scheduled Ancient Monuments Notification, 1989 (Schedule). SNN2082.

<5> BLAIR J., Palaces or Minsters? Northampton and Cheddar reconsidered (Draft). SNN72350.

<6> COUNCIL FOR INDEPENDENT ARCHAEOLOGY, 2007-8, Independent Archaeology Newsletter, p.20 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN106137.

<7> Chapman, A, 2021, Appendix 2: The Radiocarbon Dates, p. 64-8 (Appendix). SNN112910.

<8> Williams, J H, Shaw, M, & Chapman, A, 2021, Anglo-Saxon Northampton Revisited (Article). SNN112908.

<9> SHAW M., 1985, Excavations on a Saxon and Medieval Site at Black Lion Hill, Northampton, p. 113-138 (Article). SNN2121.

<10> Jordan, D, Hedges, R, Otlet, R, Switsur, R and Walker, J, 1994, Radiocarbon Dates from samples funded by English Heritage between 1981 and 1988, p. 216-8 (Monograph). SNN112643.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:00PM