SNN105012 - Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, Topographical and Metal-detecting Surveys at Barnes Meadow, Northampton. November to December 2004

A desk-based assessment of the Barnes Meadow area did not suggest that it was part of either the Lancastrian encampment nor the scene of fighting at the Battle of Northampton in 1460. However, its inclusion as part of the Registered Battlefield area reflects its proximity to the fighting and there is a possibility that some soldiers fled across the site after the battle. No artefacts relating to the battle have been recovered from the metal detecting survey. The historic maps examined have shown that this area has been meadow throughout the post-medieval period, and it is highly probable that it was unchanged since the medieval period. The source of the River Nene has changed since 1768 to the present, prior to the new canalised course being constructed between 1965 and 1983. The potential for ex-situ Palaeolithic finds is moderate in the underlying river gravel but the likelihood of remains of other archaeological periods is low. Detailed deposit modelling has been carried out for the River Nene immediately east of the site, but although this information is site specific it provides a useful model of underlying deposits which should not be affected by the proposed works.