Monument record 2659/1 - Site of Weldon Manor and medieval industrial activity

The site of Basset's manor house was known as Hall Close. Considerable earthworks survived until development in the 1960s. Excavation revealed a medieval building as well as a possible potters workshop and evidence of ironworking. A building is shown here in 1730

{1} The site, known as Hall Close, was that of the manor house of the Basset family who held Weldon from the early 12th century, but all the remains were finally destroyed in 1967-8 when houses were erected there. Before destruction 'considerable earthworks' including 'a level platform' and 'traces of what could have been fishponds' existed. Excavations in 1970 were confined to the main 'platform' where the remains of a stone building, associated with 13th and 14th century pottery, were discovered. This building was altered a number of times and then demolished and its area occupied by a courtyard. To the north more walling apparently associated with 15th century pottery was discovered. In the same area evidence of both pottery kilns and iron working, all of the 12th to 13th centuries, was noted.

{2} Considerable earthworks remains and before WWII excavation found masonry and pottery confirming the site of the manor.
The area consists of a level platform upon which the present bungalow has been built; to the north an abrupt bank four feet high separates the platform from the rest of the area which slopes gently down to the stream where there are traces of what could have been fish-ponds. On the platform, some masonry was recovered when the bungalow was built and a wall complex found during further excavation in 1970. 13th and 14th century pottery was associated with this building. Alterations and re-building had taken place and later the area was filled in as a courtyard.
The bank north of the manor house was found to contain substantial walling during the 1970 excavation and it is possible to produce a ground plan of this part of the building. Pottery and small finds date this area as 15th century. At the east end of this section considerable quantities of slag and cinders were found, pointing to the close proximity of a bloomery, together with the base of a potter's wheel. Tools associated with the pottery industry, kiln fabric, some with glazing upon it and considerable ash, and a great deal of 12th and 13th century sherds all pointed to the close proximity of kilns and a bloomery; this was probably the area of the potter's workshop.

{4} A building is shown on the site on a map of 1730

{3} Excavation of a possible hunting lodge c.1920-30 [HER note 06/03/2014: it seems likely that this source has been attached to the wrong site - need to check]

{6} The manor site produced evidence of 13th to 15th century occupation associated with an earthwork platform and stone foundations; adjacent to it were 12th to 13th century pottery kilns and ironworking furnaces.

{9} At SP 92648929 are foundations (still visible) of fairly extensive buildings. A 16th-century map of Weldon in the County Record Office, names the Field Hall Close and shows a building. Local reports assert that this building was the Hall of Baron Bassett, a 13th-century holder of the Manor of Weldon.

{10} Foundations visible consist mainly of the turf covered remains of a wall c0.3m high running E-W for a distance of approx. 25.0m. Other adjacent low grass covered mounds doubtless cover additional remains.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.165/Site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Reedy, W.T., 1971, The First Two Bassetts of Weldon - Novi Barones of the Early and Mid-Twelfth Century (part 2), Vol.4No.5 p.298 (checked) (Article). SNN24658.

<3> Northampton Museum Topographical Index, (unchecked) (Index). SNN1470.

<4> 1730, Map of Weldon, (unchecked) (Map). SNN38866.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP98NW15 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<6> Foard, G.; Hall, D. & Partida, T., 2009, Rockingham Forest: An atlas of the medieval and early-modern landscape, p. 295 (Book). SNN106598.

<7> Brown, G, 1970, Excavations in Bassett's Close, Weldon, June to August 1970 (Report). SNN112726.

<8> Harcourt, J, 1980-1, Bassett Manor, Great Weldon, Northants (Report). SNN112727.

<9> Colquhoun, FD, 1961, Field investigators comments, F1 FDC 27-JUL-61 (Notes). SNN113017.

<10> Seaman, B H, 1961, Field investigators comments, F2 BHS 30-AUG-61 (Notes). SNN112887.

<11> Annotated Record Map, Corr 6" (M Seaborne 26-JUL-59) (Map). SNN112961.

<12> Reedy, W.T., 1970, The First Two Bassetts of Weldon - Novi Barones of the Early and Mid-Twelfth Century (Part 1), p. 245-8 (Article). SNN113230.

Record last edited

Apr 19 2022 4:09PM