SNN105356 - Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for the former allotments, Hardingstone, Northampton October 2005

Northamptonshire Archaeology undertook an archaeological desk-based assessment in the immediate vicinity of the former allotments in Hardingstone, Northampton. Hunsbury Hillfort, the major monument of the Iron Age in this area, lies to the west pf the Hundbury ridge with several known Iron Age settlements. Excavation carried out ahead of the building of Hardingstone Primary School to the east of the allotments and the Northampton Girls High School to the west, located major Iron Age enclosure ditches as well as other gullies and ditches with associated pottery and other finds. Similarly, Roman occupation along the ridge included two excavated villa sites in Wooton and at Hunsbury. In Hardingstone, work along Martin's Lane and the primary school to the east located a series of 1st century pottery kilns, while ditches were observed at the school to the west. A small pagan Saxon cemetery was discovered in the village during the 19th century, with furhter similar burials being found near Hardingstone Primary School, immediately east of the allotments. The allotments lie to the south of the medieval village and were part of the earlier medieval field system, with no indication that there had been any development on that land up until the present day.