SNN108146 - Archaeological desk-based assessment of land at Eydon Hall, Eydon, Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire Archaeology was commissioned by the Roger Coy Partnership to carry out a desk-based assessment of Eydon hall Estate, Northamptonshire. Little prehistoric or Roman archaeology is known in the vicinity, although this may be due to a lack of previous archaeological investigation, rather than a dearth of settlement during these periods. Eydon was recorded in the Doomsday Book of 1086, but the lords of the manor are known from the 14th century onwards. The main manor of Eydon was granted to Sir John Cope by Henry VIII in 1541 and held by the family until the 17th century, while a smaller, subsidiary manor was held by the Wakelyn family from the 14th century. In the middle of the 17th century John Browne bought Cope’s manor, which was situated to the east of the church, and soon after Wakelyn’s manor. It is at this period that manor Farmhouse may have been built. In the late 18th century Reverend Francis Annesley bought the estate and almost immediately began demolishing the old manor and creating a new house, designed by James Lewis. Eydon remained in the hands of the Annesley family until the early 20th century when it was bought by Lady Fermor-Hesketh.