SNN63145 - Danesfield Farmyard, Rothersthorpe, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Field Evaluation

An archaeological field evaluation was undertaken between July 5th – 9th, 1999, at Danesfield Farmyard, Rothersthorpe. Its purpose was to establish the archaeological implications of a proposed residential development. The site is adjacent to ‘The Berry’, an earthwork enclosure and Scheduled Ancient Monument. The monument is of unknown date and it was hoped that associated features might be found that could shed light on its origin. Five trenches were opened in various parts of the site. Trenches situated just to the north of The Berry were largely blank. Two shallow ditches and a possible posthole were encountered, withy no artefactual or other dating evidence. A small trench placed in the central courtyard of the farm located a ditch sealed beneath a subsoil, though again, no dating evidence was forthcoming. It had been suggested that The Berry may once have been situated within a larger enclosure, bounded in part by Church Street and North Street. With this possibility in mind trenches were sited in the eastern corner of the site. While no traces of an outer rampart were found, the stone wall foundations of a medieval building were uncovered, together with possible internal and external surfaces. Pot sherds found within the clay matrix of the wall are dated to the 13th-15th centuries. Two probable beamslots found running parallel to the two wall foundations were likely to have been the remnants of an associated building. Beyond the building, a ditch – or possibly a series of intercutting pits- was found, form which a quantity of 12th – 13th century pottery was recovered.