SNN115676 - Newton Field Centre, Newton, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

The site of Newton Field Centre (formerly the Church of St Faith), Newton, Northamptonshire has been assessed for its below ground archaeological potential. The site comprises the church, two paths within the churchyard, a triangular-shaped piece of land and an access road. The 14th century Church of St Faith is Grade II* Listed and its churchyard (including a Medieval cross and perimeter wall) are part of its curtilage. The churchyard is known to contain burials dating to the Medieval, Post-Medieval and more recent periods. The churchyard remains consecrated. The church itself was deconsecrated in 1970 and the Church transferred the building in 1974 to the Trustees of the Newton in the Willows Trust, who operated it as a residential Field Centre until recently. The churchyard and wall surrounds is the responsibility of Geddington PCC. The proposed development will not cause any below ground impact within the church, churchyard or access road. Accordingly, this assessment considers the potential archaeological impact of the use of the triangularshaped piece of land as a garden. Proposed alterations to the upstanding fabric of the church are considered in a separate Built Heritage Statement. The Scheduled remains of a late 16th /17th century house, gardens and dovecote associated with the Tresham family estate are located immediately east of the study site. The Post-Medieval house and gardens only survive as earthworks while the dovecote is still extant and is located c.200m north-east of the study site. A review of the HER data, cartographic evidence and published sources suggest that the church once served a community associated with the village of Little Newton deserted in the 15th/16th century. Although, there is also a suggestion that the building was originally the Tresham family chapel. The exact location of the village is therefore uncertain, although fieldwalking a short distance to the southwest of the church recovered material dating to the 11th to 14th centuries. Large scale ironstone quarrying took place in the 20th century a short distance to the north and west of the churchyard. It is not clear if the quarrying extended into the triangular-shaped piece of land within the study site. Twentieth century cultivation and the excavation of a pond will have caused negative archaeological impacts within the triangular-shaped piece of land. Based on available information, it could be conceived that the part of the study site located beyond the churchyard wall, has a potential for Saxon, Medieval and Post-Medieval remains associated with the Deserted Medieval Village of Little Newton. However, it is probable that settlement would have been set back from the church. Accordingly, this assessment identifies a moderate potential for Saxon, Medieval and Post-Medieval archaeological remains within the proposed garden site. A low potential is identified for all other periods of human activity. Any surviving remains are likely to be of local or regional interest. The development proposes the use of the triangular-shaped piece of land as a garden. The proposals provide for a replacement fence and a small shed (not requiring foundations). All gardening activity will be contained within the topsoil and therefore there will be no below ground archaeological impact. Accordingly, there should be no requirement for any further archaeological work within the study site. The study site forms part of the setting of both the Listed church and the nearby Scheduled Monument. However, it is considered that the introduction of a garden within the study site will not negatively impact views towards the church and curtilage structures, the Scheduled dovecote and surrounding earthworks. The impact of the alterations to the upstanding fabric of the church on the setting of nearby heritage assets is considered in a separate Built Heritage Statement.