Monument record 1160/32 - Gobion Manor

The location of this manor has presented historians with difficulties. The manor was destroyed in the 1675 fire of Northampton. Documentary evidence suggests that it was located on the north side of The Riding, with Abington Street the northern boundary. Excavation on The Riding in 1981-2 found the remains of a building of some pretension dating to the 16th century, although re-excavation in 1999 suggests that the building may not have been directly associated with Gobion Manor and that this probably lay further north and east of the excavations.

{1} Gobion family important in Northampton from at least C12th; owned considerable property in town and fields; Gobion Manor known from C13th; was bought by Corporation in 1620 and destroyed by Great Fire of 1675; probably the large building marked on Speeds map of 1610; area later referred to as 'Riding Ground'.

{2} Large building probably manor house of Gobion family.

{3} Area of Gobion Manor referred to as 'Riding Ground'.

{4} Gobion family prominent in Northampton in C12th and C13th; history fully discussed in Serjeantson (1911); earliest mention 1130 of Hugh Gobion; size of manor known from inquisition Post Mortem on death of Sir Richard Gobion (Serjeantson 273f); on his death property was divided between daughters Hawisia and Elizabeth; Elizabeth received Gobion and Knaptoft manors; married to Thomas Paynell therefore estates passed to Paynell family; location of manor is counterpart of lease of town farm and remains of manor house dated 6th April 1685 given to the Corporation; a document of 1685 clearly places the manor house to the south of Abington Street, to the east of Fish Street and to the west of St Giles Terrace.

Excavation on The Riding in 1981-2 at SP75706054 found the enigmatic remains of a structure with an internal pitched stone surface which resembled a hearth but with no evidence of burning. Surrounding the foundations was very fine metalling. Possibly dated to the 16th century. The large quantity of tile and 2 pieces of architectural moulding suggest presence of a medieval building of some pretentions; post medieval finds from the site again indicate some affluence in C16/17th; quality of these supplements documentary evidence but further work necessary to locate manor house itself.

Finds included: coins: Nuremburg jetton c1550-96; 3 Nuremburg jettons c1580-1610; 3 James I farthings 1614-1625;Iron objects comprise cleaver & items of building & household ironwork; also arrowhead; knife Fe5 has decorated ivory handle; knife Fe7 has solid iron handle; both early C17th date; Fe18 & Fe19 are keys & Fe20 a stapled hasp;68 copper alloy objects: 32 pins; some coiled wire heads & stamped shanks; fragmentary double-looped buckle notable for excessive decoration; at least 11 buttons; rumbler bell has makers initials in decoration;Number of glass drinking vessel sherds suggesting affluence in C16th & C17th; window glass & bottles includes almost intact C19th vessels;Clay pipe fragments include 73 bowls from post medieval contexts; included examples of Oswalds general types & Atkinsons & Oswalds London types;645 pieces of roof tile & 49 pieces of floor tile; 1 piece of decorated tin glaze Spanish wall tile recovered from C18th context though probably dates to C16th;

{5} Incorrectly notes the manor to be located to the north of Abington Street.

{6} 1504 rental places the manor in Derngate which was then called 'Swinwel-strete'.

{7} 'Riding' converted to garden.

{8} 'Riding' existed as street; built up on south side.

{9} Relates to tenement & garden in St Giles Street; records 'piece of land formerly a common way or lane next Gubbyons farme on north'.

{10} Puts Gobion Manor under Swynewellestrete & refers to an earlier rental from time of Edward I explaining the location error.

{11}Yearly values on manors 1534 includes manor of Northampton.

{12} History of the family & manor of Gobion.

{14} "…lately stood a messuage situate & being in Abington Streete…burnt downe and demolished by the late dreadful fire..1675 …known by the name of Gobions manor howse with the whole homestead and backside in which was severall barnes and a maulting, stables, cowhouses and other little buildings...still remaining unbuilt and also the passage or cartway leading from Dithers Lane into the yard or backside….. And also the close…. And the tenement and all the upper end of the said close on the east adjoyning to the Pinfold neare unto St Gyles church yard…….etc".

{15} Excavations within postulated boundary of Gobion Manor, property in town fields held from at least end of 13th century by Gobion family.

{16} Discussion by T.C.Welsh about the location of the Gobion Manor and its history.

{17} Alternative location for Gobion Manor (based on study of maps, deeds, trade directories etc) provided by T.C. Welsh.

{18} The Gobion Manor, traditionally located on and at the upper end of Abington Street, which is indicated in documents, was placed in the Ridings 120 metres west on speculative interepretation of the 1685 sale description by implying an adjacent site on St Giles's Street proved the manor extended to St Giles's Street. Property searches disprove this and confirm references indicating the traditional site.

{21} Note states stone foundations were of uncertain purpose.

{22} T.C. Welsh believes that the location of Gobion Manor is more likely to be where the Central Library is located on Abington Street. He believes that it would have fronted onto Abington Street.

{23} Excavation on the south side of The Riding in 1999 incorporated the same area as the 1981-2 excavations and extending the area excavated to the west. The substantial 16th-century building identified previously had been partially destroyed by the backfilling. The building was re-interpreted as possibly the house of Harrison of Stowe recorded in 1586 as blocking a back passage to the Gobion Estate. The lack of building material or household dumps very rich in high status artefacts suggest that Gobion Manor was not directly in the area excavated, but may have been built on flatter, better compacted ground north and east of the site.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.392-3/Site 49(checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (checked) (Map). SNN559.

<2> 1685, RENTALS AND SURVEYS, (unchecked) (Document). SNN56778.

<3> 1595, DEED, (unchecked) (Document). SNN56779.

<3> Noble; Butlin, 1746, Town Map, (checked) (Map). SNN430.

<4> WILLIAMS J.H., FARWELL C., 1984, Excavations in The Riding, Northampton, in the Area of Gobion Manor 1981-1982, p.83 (checked) (Article). SNN1096.

<4> Welsh T.C., 2000, Document Search: The Gobion Manor, (unchecked) (Report). SNN100416.

<5> Cox Rev.J.C., 1898, Records of The Borough of Northampton, p.169 (unchecked) (Book). SNN3420.

<6> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire- The Borough of Northampton, p.19 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<7> Roper; Cole, 1807, Map of The Town of Northampton, (checked) (Map). SNN621.

<8> Wood; Law, 1847, Town Map of Northampton, (checked) (Map). SNN752.

<9> 1595, DEED, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN1215.

<10> 1300, RENTALS AND SURVEYS, SC 12/13/28 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN1216.

<11> 1534, Letters & Papers of Henry VIII (LPFD 1-30, Vol.7), (checked) (Document). SNN716.

<12> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1911, HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ST GILES, NORTHAMPTON, p.259-287 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN1094.

<13> 1504, RENTALS AND SURVEYS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN56836.

<14> 1685, RENTALS AND SURVEYS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN1095.

<15> Young S.M.; Clark J.; Barry T., 1982, Medieval Archaeology (26), 26/191 (checked) (Journal). SNN3639.

<16> WELSH T.C., 1997, WHERE WAS THE GOBION MANOR?, (checked) (Notes). SNN46482.

<17> WELSH T.C., 1998, THE SITE OF THE GOBION MANOR, (part checked) (Notes). SNN46953.

<18> WELSH T.C., 1998, NOTE, (checked) (Notes). SNN46994.

<19> Welsh T.C., 2000, Document Search: The Gobion Manor, (unchecked) (Report). SNN100416.

<20> Cowling, P., 2006, Gobion's Manor - NRO, (unchecked) (Note). SNN107688.

<21> Young S.M.; Clark J.; Barry T., 1982, Medieval Archaeology (26), 26/199 (Journal). SNN3639.

<22> WELSH T.C., 1999, New Light on "The Riding", Northampton, (part checked) (Document). SNN47507.

<23> Capon L., 2001, Excavations At The Ridings, Northampton (Report). SNN101155.

<24> Capon, L, 2005, Excavations at The Ridings, Northampton; now Yates' Wine Lodge (Article). SNN112197.

Record last edited

Apr 23 2025 7:53PM