SNN106058 - Archaeological Watching Brief at Naseby Obelisk, Naseby, Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Council's Archives and Heritage Service carried out an archaeological watching brief on the mound at Naseby Obelisk in December 2007 during excavations by contractors of the foundation trenches for a flight of stone steps and an associated small paved area. For the most part any archaeological remains would have been sealed below the shallow excavated trenches and therefore not visible during the present work. No remains were found of a timber post mill believed to have occupied the site at the time of the Battle of Naseby in 1645. However, a small number of features were recorded in the two trenches and whilst one at least may predate the erection in 1823 of the present obelisk, the majority are considered on balance to be more likely associated with construction and subsequent use of that monument. A small quantity of stratified Post-Medieval and later (16th-19th Century) pottery sherds and other material included a 17th/18th century button, were recovered. A metal detector search of the trenches undertaken by a member of the Naseby Battlefield Project did not find any significant objects.