SNN109893 - Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Building Evaluation for The Convent of Our Lady, Hall Lane, Kettering, Northamptonshire, December 2003

Northamptonshire Archaeology (now MOLA) carried out a desk-based assessment of the historic resource for the Convent of Our Lady, Hall Lane, Kettering. The work was conducted as part of a pre-determination evaluation for Kettering Borough Council prior to any decisions for the future of the site being considered. It is thought that there is a moderate potential for below-ground archaeological features dating to the Roman period due to a number of finds that have been recovered in the vicinity of the site. Any such features are likely to be of low/local significance. There is considered to be a low potential for features dating to other periods. The site contains two detached houses and contemporary cottages with later additions and has been run by the Convent of Our Lady since the late 1950’s. Both houses are grade 11 listed, although at the time of the original survey only one was so designated. The northernmost house, formerly named Middlewest, was previously attributed to the architect J A Gotch although no evidence was found to support this claim. It is now attributed to A Bamford. The southernmost house was built for Charles Wicksteed by Gotch. Both houses have undergone varying degrees of alteration and addition and a number of school buildings had been built close to and between the two properties, although many of these have since been demolished. The documentary evidence indicates that the site was first developed in the late 19th century before which date it was open fields.