Monument record 1752/1 - Manor site, Mill Cotton

Site of a moated manor destroyed by gravel extraction in the 1970s. The moat was investigated and the remains of a substantial stone bridge abutment found. The layout of the interior is almost completely unknown, although the main manor buildings may have been situated in the northern half.

{?} Earthwork of a medieval moated enclosure

{1} North of the site of Mill Cotton [SP 97 SE 62] and completely destroyed by 1964 was a rectangular enclosure bounded by shallow ditches with an internal bank on the S side (shown on OS map). Air photographs taken before destruction indicate that the internal bank also extended along the E and W sides. [RCHM plan].

{3} Bridges describes the remains here of a square intrenchment with high earth bank and deep ditch; a good part of each remaining on the N and W sides. Bridges appears to connect this earthwork with the DMV of Mill Cotton, suggesting that Chapel-close, and other adjoining enclosures, were formerly a part of it.

{5} Site had been ploughed by 1974

{6} A large bank of a moat was levelled by the farmer and spread across the field in the 1950s. Aerial photos NCCAP:9674/(+);

{7} Destruction of moated enclosure was observed by David Hall in 1973 and R A H Williams in 1974. Enclosure was roughly rectangular in plan with internal dimensions of 135m N-S by 85m E-W. Remnants of internal and external banks noted. The moat appears to be broad and flat-bottomed c 13m wide and 1.5m deep and the fills were a mixture of clays, sand and sandy gravels; water deposited silts indicate that the moat contained water for at least part of the year. The northern arm of the moat was defined by a stream channel; the eastern arm was c 6m wide and 2.4m deep and consisted of two channels sepatated by a narrow ridge or spine; the western channel was c 6m wide and up to 2.6m deep. The date of the moated enclosure is unknown.The moat was recut, following the accumulation of silts, to form a channel only 3m wide. A late 13th or early 14th century date can be suggested for the remodelling of the eastern side of the moat - based on find of 13th century leather shoe and single sherd of pottery from the same silts.Interior of enclosure unknown - D Hall noted presence of stone scatters (stone buildings) and a ditch running east to west which could have divided the area in two. R A H Williams observed destruction of southern part of enclosure and saw no trace of structural remains.

Substantial bridge abutment constructed within fills of western and eastern channels - superstructure suggests elaborate bridge which would have been appropriate for the main entrance to a manorial complex.Surviving structure of masonry bridge abutment was 6.5m long and 1.25m wide. Return walls ran westward from the main structure for 3-4m. Five or six off set courses of roughly faced limestone blocks stood on and revetted a core of limestone rubble. The east face of the wall was entirely in roughly coursed and dressed ironstone while the western face was a mixture of ironstone and limestone. Within the fills of the adjacent length of the moat there were several chamfered ironstone blocks, one of which was grooved.

{8} Find of an urn containing ashes found moated enclosure.

{12} This site was extant in 1947 (see Aps CPE/UK 1925 1253-4) but had been freshly filled by 1954 (see AP RAF 1312/26 May 1954-08052 -0195).
It is now levelled and under pasture. No additional historical reference were obtained, but the air photographs suggest this to have probably been a manorial work.

{13} Deserted settlement of Mill Cotton (SP 969744). Excavations just outside the northern enclosure in 1973, before destruction by gravel-working, revealed a C14th bakehouse and C11th and C12th ditches. Excavations in 1974 within the enclosure showed no trace of any building; the surrounding moat was found to be revetted at one point.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.85/Site 8 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> OS 25 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN37258.

<3> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.190 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP97SE1 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Northamptonshire Archaeology, (unchecked) (Journal). SNN37261.

<6> 1987, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN50452.

<7> Parry S., 1993, Raunds Area Survey Report, p.130-31 (unchecked) (Draft). SNN1175.

<8> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 194 & 220 (Series). SNN100368.

<9> Chapman, A., 1974, Excavations at Mill Cotton, Ringstead, Northamptonshire; 1973-74 (Report). SNN57316.

<10> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p.516 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10113.

<11> Parry S. et al, 2006, Raunds Area Survey: An Archaeological Study of The Landscape of Raunds, Northamptonshire 1985-94, p. 186-195 (Book). SNN105780.

<12> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 26-NOV-69 (Note). SNN111452.

<13> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 192/Site 8 (Series). SNN77382.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:03PM