SNN108289 - Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation in the West Range, Kirby Hall, Northamptonshire December 2011

Archaeological trial excavations were undertaken by Northamptonshire Archaeology in the West Range of Kirby Hall, Northamptonshire. The excavations demonstrated that there was a natural incline of the ground southwards towards a steam on the south side of the Hall. This landscape was levelled off to create a platform to build the Hall, reducing the ground to the north onto the natural limestone bedrock, so that the building only required shallow foundations. The ground and the foundations to the south had to be made-up to maintain level platform. Sealed below the construction levels at the southern end of the West Range is a possible buried soil containing medieval pottery dating between the 13th – 15th centuries, which may be the remains of pre-hall deposits. Features relating to the development and occupation of the Hall were present, as construction levels, internal floors and partition wall slots. Two trenches placed in the garden, adjacent to the west side of the West Range also produced evidence of the Hall foundations and garden features, which included a stone-lined drain from within the house and garden path. The only pottery recovered from the building layers were from the upper deposits which were late 19th to early 20th century in date. Other finds included window glass, lead window came and decorated wall plaster.