SNN112197 - Excavations at The Ridings, Northampton; now Yates' Wine Lodge

During November and December 1999, AOC Archaeology Group excavated an area within the footprint of the new Yates Wine Lodge. The primary objective of the work was to locate the medieval Gobion Manor, and to determine whether there was any pre-conquest settlement. In addition, a stone building encountered in an earlier excavation (1981-2) was to be re-assessed. The earliest evidence of activity on the site was a large 12th century quarry, 2m deep, which occupied up to 25% of the site area. A large stone foundation was constructed in the quarry during the mid 13th century. This represented the first phase of a northsouth boundary which continued in use until the town fire of 1675, and was probably a boundary of the Gobion Manor estate. To the west of the boundary were the remains of properties dating to the 13th century fronting onto Fish Street. The road now known as ‘The Ridings’ appears to have originated as an access route to Gobion Manor, founded in the 12th century. A stone-floored house revealed during the 1981-2 excavations is now thought to be one built across the thoroughfare which was demolished by the council in 1622. The name ‘The Ridings’ dates from the 18th century, when the land was occupied by a town farm superseding the Gobion Manor Farm. In the 19th century, a row of terraced, gable–ended houses were erected facing onto The Ridings. These were demolished during the 20th century, and a basement of significant depth was constructed at the south of the site