SNN100329 - Archaeological Watching Brief At Ashton Manor Moated Site, Northamptonshire (SAM No. 13615)

An archaeological watching brief was carried out between February and March 2000 during groundworks for the construction of a new garage and carport on land within Ashton Moated Manor House. The watching brief found important medieval archaeological deposits surviving on the eastern part of the site, 0.5m below the ground level. The western area was excavated less deeply and only post-medieval deposits were exposed. Apart from a modern pipe trench and a couple of small recent features, there has been little disturbance to the medieval archaeology of the site and the remains were preserved in situ beneath the foundations of the garage. Two sides of a medieval stone structure together with an internal clay floor was uncovered in the north west corner of the site within a few metres of the western moat. The floor contained mid-late 12th century pottery. An undated circular feature, possibly a well or oven was found cutting or within this floor. The building may have been occupied from the 12th to the 15th centuries when the walls were partly robbed. Other features include a possible limestone floor with adjacent ash/charcoal deposit and two possible postholes. No dating evidence was obtained from these features.