Amen Corner, Moat Lane, Towcester, Northamptonshire

An Archaeological Evaluation and Desk-Based Assessment

for Mr Paul Smith

by Sarah Coles and Lisa‐Maree Hardy

Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd

Site Code MLT02/94

November 2002 Summary

Site name: Amen corner, Moat Lane, Towcester, Northamptonshire

Grid reference: SP 6938 4871

Site activity: Evaluation

Date and duration of project: 31st October–1st November 2002

Project manager: Steve Ford

Site supervisor: Sarah Coles

Site code: MLT 02/94

Area of site: 455 sq m

Summary of results: A 19th/20th century buried soil seals a series of medieval pits and a gully, which cut Roman pits.

Monuments identified: Medieval pits, a medieval gully, two certain and three possible Roman pits.

Location and reference of archive: The archive is currently held by Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, 47-49 De Beauvoir Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 5NR and will be deposited with an approved local museum in due course.

This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder

Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford9 12.11.02 Steve Preston9 12.11.02

i Amen Corner, Moat Lane, Towcester An Archaeological Evaluation and Desk-Based Assessment

by Sarah Coles and Lisa-Maree Hardy

Report 02/94

Introduction

This report documents the results of a desk-based assessment and archaeological field evaluation carried out at

Amen Corner, Moat Lane, Towcester, Northamptonshire (SP 6938 4871) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Dave Collins, 25 West Street, Ecton, Northampton, NN6 0QF, on behalf of Mr Paul Smith.

A planning application is to be made to South Northamptonshire District Council to demolish an existing structure, with the exception of a listed wall (Grade II), and to redevelop the site. A field evaluation and desk- based assessment have been requested to provide information on the archaeological potential of the site, which would be used to draw up a mitigation strategy to minimize or mitigate the effects of development on any archaeological deposits present.

This is in accordance with the Department of the Environment’s Planning Policy Guidance, Archaeology and Planning (PPG16 1990), and Northamptonshire County Council’s policies on archaeology. The field investigation was carried out to a specification approved by Mr Myk Flitcroft, County Archaeological Officer,

Northamptonshire County Council. The fieldwork was undertaken by Sarah Coles, Clare Challis and Andy

Mundin on the 31st October and 1st November 2002, and the site code is MLT 02/94. The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited with an appropriate museum in due course.

Location, topography and geology

The site is located on the corner of Chantry Lane and Moat Lane, Towcester, in close proximity to St Lawrence

Church and Bury Mount (Fig. 1).. The site is currently wholly occupied by a large warehouse. Access is gained via Moat Lane. The site is located at a height of approximately 90m above Ordnance Datum and lies on gravel, with Head deposits to the north and south (BGS 1969).

Archaeological background and documentary evidence

The prehistory of Towcester remains comparatively obscure beside the better-recorded later periods. However, evidence suggests activity in the area in the Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages, with evidence of a

1 possible Iron Age settlement to the west of the town itself. A single late Iron Age ditch, possibly associated with gateposts was discovered during excavations at Bury Mount. Other finds associated with the Iron Age include four coins found around the town.

Towcester’s Roman period, on the other hand, is much better known (the following notes draw heavily on the provisional review provided by Taylor et al. 2002). The Roman town which occupied the site of Towcester was called Lactodurum. This probably grew from a conquest-period fort established on the edge of the territories of the Corieltuavi and Catuvellauni. The town is well documented as an important centre, lying on the major road in the area, Watling Street. The Alchester Road which acted as the primary route to the south-west from the end of the 1st until the late 4th century also runs through Towcester. Archaeological evidence suggests that

Watling Street was metalled and probably first used in the Flavian period (AD70s). Lactodurum was a major centre for trade, and archaeological evidence of large public buildings suggests that the town also served as an administrative centre for the surrounding area.

Although some occupation was clearly established by as early as the 1st century AD, extensive occupation evidence only survives from the 2nd century onwards. The major area of settlement was to the west of Watling

Street, on the floodplain of the Tove and Silverstone Brook. Development also flanked Watling Street, resulting in a ribbon settlement pattern. During the second century stone fronted buildings were constructed on road frontages along with houses and shops. In the core of the town religious and public buildings were constructed.

In the later 2nd century a large rampart and ditch perimeter was constructed around the town core and around the major road junctions. These defences may have incorporated a stone wall, and by the 4th century included bastions. It is possible that the defences had four gateways, two of which stood at Watling Street, one to the east, and one to the west. It is assumed that one of these gates lies in Moat Lane, possibly in the area covered by the motte. The construction of the defences truncated existing settlement and smaller roads.

Around the fringes of the settlement several small enclosures suggest small agricultural plots which were sometimes used for burials. The occupation of Lactodurum continued until the end of the 4th century and perhaps into the (ever-elusive) 5th.

There is a general absence of evidence for the early Saxon period. The early to middle Saxon period is represented by a small number of pottery sherds, particularly in the vicinity of the castle, indicating possible occupation in this area. However, an early Saxon cemetery has been discovered to the north-west of Towcester.

By the late Saxon period Towcester was once again the centre of occupation, possibly due to the refortification of the Roman town by Edward the Elder in AD 917. This appears to have followed his defeat of a Viking army

2 in this year, resulting in Towcester becoming a burh (which in this instance could refer to a physical fortification, or its administrative status, or both). Certainly, by 1086 there were two royal estates in the Tove

Valley, one of which was Towcester. Prior to 917 Towcester was a part of the Mercian province attached to

Kings Sutton, however after the reconquest it became a new shire attached to Northampton. Evidence of late

Saxon Towcester includes boundary ditches, which may suggest an agricultural settlement within the Roman defences.

Domesday Book of 1086 records Towcester possessing a mill and values of £25 per year, double its worth in Edward the Confessor’s time, suggesting a sudden upsurge in the affluence of Towcester and its industries.

Towcester remained royal estate land for one hundred years following the Conquest. Roger de Clare, Earl of

Hertford was granted Towcester by the Crown and in the middle of the 12th century was recorded as giving

Towcester Mill to the Knights Templar.

The construction of a Norman motte and bailey castle within the Roman defences suggests that the defences were still in existence or at least visible at this time. The castle was built as an estate castle, but was perhaps also used to control the road network. The major intersection of the medieval Oxford to Northampton road and Watling Street is in close proximity to the castle. The castle was in use for a century before falling into disrepair. In 1392 it was mentioned in a description of the town’s Manor House. It was described as having a hall house, and consisted of two chambers, a separate kitchen and stable. Adjacent was an ox-house with a stable and cart house. The castle is also described as possessing a moat.

Towcester was a market town, and although the market is not first recorded until 1220, it is possible that a market existed prior to this. The site of the market is likely to have been from the church extending towards

Watling Street, which is an area now covered by the present Market Square and Town Hall. The market would have contained a cross, although no evidence has been found. The market was also the site of the town’s gallows. Towcester’s status as a major commercial centre, exemplified by the successful market, continued throughout the medieval period into the post-medieval period. The development of coaching during the 17th century benefited the town, which was a major staging post during the 18th and 19th centuries, until the development of the railway (RCHME 1982; Sunderland 1998; Sunderland and Webb 1995; Taylor et al 2002).

Northamptonshire Sites and Monuments Record

A search was made of the Northamptonshire Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) on the 21st October 2002 for an area of 150m surrounding the site. The results of this search indicate 88 records in close proximity to the site,

3 including 44 archaeological entries and 44 listed buildings. The locations of these records are illustrated in

Figure 2 and the entries are summarized in Appendix 1.

Prehistoric

Three entries related to the prehistoric period. The first of these relates to the Mesolithic, which was represented by a small flint scatter observed during an evaluation (CAT 1992) [Fig. 2; 35]. An excavation to the north-west revealed struck flint dated to the Neolithic or possibly Bronze Age period [17]. A possible late Iron Age cemetery was discovered to the north of the site, along with a ditch and gully containing pottery (Cadman 1991)

[36].

Roman

The majority of site records relate to Roman Lactodurum. The main road of the period was Watling Street, which runs immediately south of the site. At least three superimposed road surfaces have been recorded for the road during various periods of observations (CAT 1992) [42]. A presumed line of the road has been included in the SMR, although this line runs along the current Watling Street [13]. Possible Roman inhumations were discovered to the north of the proposal site, along with a ditch, bank and gully containing pottery (Cadman 1991)

[36]. A low scarp which may represent a portion of Lactodurum’s defences was recorded to the east of the church (CAT 1992) [41]. A watching brief to the north-west of the site revealed layered deposits containing 1st- to 3rd-century pottery (Morris 1997) [1]. An excavation to the north-west of the site revealed possible defences, occupation evidence, road surface and other features (Woodfield 1992) [17]. To the west is an area which was excavated in 1976, revealing the remains of a large timber building, believed to represent a public building, possibly a temple. Evidence of a side street and drainage was also revealed (RCHME 1982) [5].

The area now occupied by St Lawrence Church has been the focus of many finds of this period, including a

3rd-century bronze-working site, containing a crucible. The installation of a new heating system inside the church revealed mosaic pavements. Beneath the porch of the church is evidence of a bathhouse, including flue tiles, a crucible, a possible segment of a bath, remnants of a hypocaust system and pottery [37].

Other fieldwork in the area with evidence of Roman Lactodurum includes an evaluation revealing structures fronting the Alchester Road (Parry 1995) [4]; a layer of 2nd-century date (NA 1987) [28]; a 2nd- century pit in close proximity to Watling Street [10], features, including a ditch lying parallel to Watling Street, and pottery observed during an evaluation [16].

Finds from the area include a cluster of pottery and amphora sherds collected during road repairs [18]; pottery and tiles to the west of the proposal site [27],

4 Saxon

The Anglo-Saxon period is not well represented in Towcester. Few SMR entries relate to this period although some entries relate to the late Saxon to Medieval period. One of these entries relates to part of a decorated cross- shaft which was discovered in the tower of the church, and has been dated to the 10th or early 11th century [3]. It has been suggested that the current churchyard was also the site of a late Saxon church, although this has never been substantiated [33].

A watching brief to the west of the proposal site revealed a ditch lying between two Roman ditches, which was subsequently interpreted as part of Anglo-Saxon defences [7].

Medieval

The medieval period is well represented amongst the SMR entries, reflecting the growth of the town at this time.

Included in the SMR is the ‘Old Northampton Road’, linking Towcester to Northampton [43]. There are many listed buildings, many of which date to the 16th century, with later modifications [3; 9; 11; 15; 17; 19; 20].

Similarly the Chantry House, to the immediate south-west of the site has been included in the SMR [23]. The house became a school in 1552 and remained so until 1866, when it was converted. The outer boundary wall of the Chantry House has a separate Listing and entry in the SMR and forms the southern boundary of the proposal site [24].

St Lawrence Church, to the east of the proposal site is a Listed structure which dates from the medieval period [38]. The churchyard is also included in the SMR. A limestone coffin was found in the garden of the church office and was excavated in Victorian times. The form of the coffin suggests a medieval date.

To the north-east of the site is a record for enclosure ditches and hollows, though to be the remains of fishpond earthworks [40].

The most substantial entry for this period is that relating to the motte, now known as Bury Mount [21]. This circular mound, surrounded by a ditch has been described as being constructed in the late 11th century, as the motte for a castle. The mound was modified during the Civil War, and was later used as gardens. This site also contained human bone and skeletons. A tunnel has also been recorded in the vicinity of the motte, and possibly leads to the site, although this does not appear to have been substantiated. The motte itself is a Scheduled

Ancient Monument (13623).

Post-medieval

An evaluation to the west of the proposal site revealed post-medieval drains and a well (Webster 1994) [6]. An evaluation to the north of Bury Mount revealed a ditch and gully, possibly of post-medieval date along with a

5 bank and ditch. It is believed that these earthworks may represent defences, possibly dating to the Civil War

(Cadman 1990) [32; 36]. An air raid shelter has been recorded to the immediate north of the site, on the opposite corner of Chantry Lane and Moat Lane [34].

A number of the entries relate to listed buildings, including the Vicarage [30] and the Old Coach House, immediately adjacent [29]. The remainder have been summarized in Appendix 1.

The proposal site itself has an entry in the SMR, and has been included in the ‘Extensive Urban Survey:

Industrial’ (Ballinger 1999) [44]. The actual report was not available for consultation at the time of the visit to the Sites and Monuments Record at Northamptonshire County Council.

Negative and Undated

Entries in these categories include possible duplicates in the SMR, which relate to sites such as the town defences which have been subject to conjecture as to date and location [8; 14]. Also included is the boundary wall of Moat Lane, which is a Listed structure. However, this wall appears to an extension of the Chantry wall, or may indeed be the same structure [31].

One undated entry relates to a find recovered from a garden to the west of the proposal site [25]. This find was identified by the British Museum as an Egyptian or Assyrian seal. This suggests a deposition date in Roman times, or later.

A number of negative entries relate to the locations of evaluations and other investigations which did not locate any finds or features. These entries have generally been unreferenced [2; 12; 26].

Cartographic review

A range of Ordnance Survey and other historical maps of the area were consulted at the Northamptonshire Local

Studies Library in order to ascertain what activity had been taking place throughout the site’s later history and whether this may have affected any possible archaeological deposits within the proposal area (Appendix 2).

The earliest map consulted was that of Northamptonshire and surrounding counties by Saxton 1576. This map is at a small scale and shows little detail of the proposal site, although Towcester is represented as a substantial town. Similar is the map of the County of Northamptonshire by Speed (1610) (Fig. 4).

Faldon’s map of 1779 shows the basic layout of Towcester, with extensive development fronting Watling

Street. The basic pattern of the street gid is substantially as it remains today. A marked topographical ridge is shown, as is the River Tove to the north and the stream to the south of the site (Fig. 5).

6 The first site-specific map consulted was that of a Plan of the Estate belonging to the Earl of Pomeret, dated

1806 (not illustrated). This showed the area in little detail, although it was evident that at this time the site was vacant. An estate map of 1840 showing land belonging to the Earl of Pomeret clearly shows the motte surrounded by a moat. The Church of St Lawrence is depicted. The site is shown as part of a larger block fronting Watling Street, with this southern portion occupied by a U-shaped structure, presumably the Chantry.

The northern portion is unoccupied. The tithe map of six years later (not illustrated) is similar, as is a map of the

Parish dated 1848 (Fig. 6).

The First Edition Ordnance Survey, dated 1884 (Fig. 7) shows the proposal site to be unoccupied, but containing trees, suggesting gardens (possibly for the school housed in Chantry House. By 1900, the site is once again shown as open space (Fig. 8). The Ordnance Survey of 1957 shows a large rectangular structure on the site, presumably a store (Fig. 9), as shown on the Survey of 1977 (not illustrated). The Ordnance Survey of 1990 shows this as a warehouse (Fig. 10).

The cartographic review, then, suggests little or no disturbance to the site prior to the construction of the warehouse.

Listed Buildings

The site is bounded to the south by the Chantry Lane Wall and the boundary wall of Moat Lane, both of which are listed structures. The immediate surrounds of the site contain numerous Listed Buildings (summarized and listed in Appendix 1). The site also lies within a Conservation Area, as defined by Northamptonshire County

Council.

Registered Parks and Gardens; Registered Battlefields

The site does not lie within a Registered Park and Garden, nor is it the site of a Registered Battlefield.

Aerial Photographs

It was determined that it was not necessary to consult aerial photographs of the site due to its location in a built up area.

7 The Evaluation

Objectives and methodology

The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the presence/absence, extent, condition, character, quality and date of any archaeological deposits within the area of development and to determine if components of the Roman medieval and post-medieval town are present, and to ascertain if early-middle Saxon occupation of the town is present.

Two trenches positioned on the footprints of the proposed buildings were excavated. The trenches were intended to be 6.00m long and 1.60m wide. They were dug with a Kubota type machine fitted with a toothless ditching bucket and due to the narrow width (1.40m) Trench 1 was lengthened to maintain the required area. The trenches were dug under constant archaeological supervision. All spoilheaps were monitored for finds.

A complete list of trenches giving lengths, breadths, depths and a description of sections and geology is given in Appendix 3.

Results

The two trenches excavated were 6.00m and 6.90m long respectively (Fig. 11). The stratigraphy was similar in both trenches with made ground sealing a buried soil which sealed a series of intercutting pits, which in turn cut gravel.

Trench 1 (Plate 1 )

The stratigraphy of this trench comprised 0.05m of concrete onto 0.13m of brick rubble onto a thin black silty levelling layer. Two thick brown clayey silt layers (58 and 65), 0.80m and 0.40m deep, contained dumps of

19th/20th century pottery and sealed the archaeologically relevant level. This trench revealed five pits and one gully all of which contained pottery (Figs 12 and 13). The gully and three of the pits are medieval in date.

Gully 8 was 0.94m long, 0.36m wide, and 0.12m deep and traversed the trench NE–SW. It contained two sherds of medieval and one of Roman pottery along with a single fragment of undated tile. Gully 8 cut pit 7/9 which was only partially uncovered within the trench but was 3.2m long, at least 1.0m wide and 0.29m deep. It contained four sherds of medieval potery and nine sherds of Roman pottery, a piece of Roman tegula, a piece of medieval peg tile and two undated tile fragments. Pit 7/9 in turn cut a circular pit (6) which was 1.68m by 1.00m and 0.30m deep and contained seven sherds of Roman pottery and a piece of possible Roman imbrex. This feature is tentatively dated to the Roman period. Pit 10 was 1.70m by 0.36m and 0.20m deep. It contained three

8 sherds of Roman pottery but also 5 fragments of medieval peg tile, which indicates that the Roman pottery is residual and that this pit dates to the medieval period. It was not possible to determine the relationship of this pit with medieval gully 8.

The relationship between intercutting pits 6, 11 and 12 is unclear as the complex stratigraphy was not examined. Pit 6 contained only Roman pottery whereas surface finds from pits 11 and 12 include a mixture of

Roman and medieval sherds.

Gravel natural was observed at a depth of 86.79 m above Ordnance Datum.

Trench 2 (Plate 2)

Trench 2 had 0.06m of concrete onto 0.18m of brick rubble onto a thin black silty levelling layer, which lay above 1.00m of 19th–20th-century imported soil (50), which seals the archaeologically relevant level.

Feature 1 was 0.95m deep and contained 13 sherds of Roman pottery and a piece of Roman tegula. Large pit (or ditch) 3/5 was 4.50m long and 0.90m wide and 0.25m deep and contained ten sherds of Roman pottery. A piece of possible Roman tile was also found. Pit 4 was cut by pit 3/5, and contained three sherds of Roman pottery. Pit 2 was the earliest feature stratigraphically, and contained 32 sherds of Roman pottery. The gravel natural was at 86.79m above Ordnance Datum.

Finds

Pottery by Paul Blinkhorn and Jane Timby The pottery assemblage comprised 126 sherds with a total weight of 1938g. The majority of the material (107 sherds, 1396g) was Roman, the rest medieval or later. The post-Roman material suggests that there were two post-Roman phases of activity, one in the 12th century, the other during the 16th century.

Twenty-four fo the Roman sherds were unstratified. Of the remaining 65 sherds of Roman pottery, at least

27 appear to be redeposited in Medieval contexts. Roman sherds were recovered from both trenches. The sherds were in moderately fresh condition and with the exception of those from pit/ditch [5] (56), all appear to date to the earlier Roman period. A summary of the material is given in Appendix 4. The quality and range of material, despite the small size of the group, are good, with both South and Central Gaulish samian present. Other imports include a single sherd of Dressel 20 amphora. The local wares included white-slipped flagon, shelly ware, grog- tempered ware, cream flagon, fine grey wares including one sherd with barbotine dot decoration and one with rusticated decoration. The group appears to span the late 1st to early 2nd century. The only possible later sherd is

9 from [5] (56), a flanged bowl in late Roman shelly ware, a late 4th-century type associated with five earlier

Roman types and one medieval sherd.

The post-Roman pottery was quantified using the chronology and coding system of the Northamptonshire

County Ceramic Type-Series (CTS), as follows:

F330: Shelly Coarseware, AD1100–1400. 10 sherds, 207g. F324: Brill/Boarstall Ware, AD1200–1600. 1 sherd, 4g. F403: Midland Purple ware, AD1450–1600. 1 sherd, 33g. F407: Red Earthenwares, AD1550+. 3 sherds, 171g. F1000: Miscellaneous 19th/20th century wares. 4 sherds, 127g.

The pottery occurrence by number and weight of sherds per context by fabric type is shown in Appendix 4.

Animal Bone by Sian Anthony

A small sample of 57 animal bones was recovered. All the bones were in good condition with only one showing signs of weathering due to exposure, and this was retrieved from the spoilheap of Trench 1. Species represented are the usual domestic range of animals with particular emphasis on sheep and cattle. One dog canine and three chicken bones were also found. Butchery was represented by five chop marks and three areas of bone crushed when it was still fresh. The bone is detailed in Appendix 5.

Clay pipe

Two pieces of stem were retrieved from layer (50) trench 2. The stems were non diagnostic in date. Their total weight was 8g.

Glass

Two pieces of green/brown bottle glass (144g), probably modern were retrieved from layer (58) Trench 1.

Tile

Sixteen pieces of Roman and medieval tile were retrieved, as detailed in Appendix 6.

Conclusion

The findings from the evaluation show that the archaeologically relevant levels have survived on this site, sealed by a 19th/20th century homogenous buried soil. The archaeology appears at about 86.8m aOD in the two

10 trenches, that is, at about 1.3m below the current ground level. The features excavated date to the Roman and medieval periods.

Trench 1 shows two phases of occupation. Pit 6 was the earliest feature stratigraphically and is tentatively dated to the early Roman period as few pottery and tile finds were recovered. The remaining four pits (7/9, 10,

11, 12) and gully 8 are medieval. In contrast all finds from the four pits in Trench 2 indicate an early Roman date, although relatively few pottery sherds were recovered from some of these features, and there was later material in the top of feature 5. Considering the small extent of the trenches, a high density of deposits was revealed, with numerous intercutting relationships although there was no evidence for structures nor for a build up of deposits such as for floors or midden deposits during the two periods of occupation. Allowing for the small size of the Roman assembalge, the proportion of imported finewares suggests a site of some wealth or status.

A small number of early post-medieval pottery sherds point to light use of the site in subsequent times prior to more intensive use from the 19th century onwards.

References BGS, 1969, British Geological Survey, 1:50000, Sheet 202, Solid and Drift Edition, Keyworth Cadman, G, 1990, ‘Towcester Meadow Evaluation’ South Midlands Archaeology 72 Cadman, G, 1991, ‘Trial excavation at Towcester’, South Midlands Archaeology 73 CAT, 1992, ‘Towcester Retail Development’, Cotswold Archaeological Trust Report, Cirencester Morris, S, 1997, ‘Northampton Road, Towcester, Northamptonshire: An archaeological watching brief’, Northamptonshire Archaeology, Northampton NA 1987, ‘Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1985–6’, Northamptonshire Archaeology Report, Northampton Parry, S, 1995, An archaeological evaluation of land adjacent to 15A Park Street, Towcester, Northamptonshire Archaeology Report, Northampton RCHME, 1982, An inventory of the historical monuments in the County of Northampton, Vol. 3, Roy Comm Hist Monuments Engl Sunderland, J, 1998, ‘History of Towcester’, Towcester: Official Guide, Towcester Sunderland, J and Webb, M, eds, 1995, Towcester: The story of an English country town, Towcester Local History Society, Towcester Taylor, J, Foard, G, Laughton, J, Steadman, S and Ballinger, J, 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, Northamptonshire County Council (provisional draft) PPG16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, HMSO Webster, M, 1994, ‘Archaeological Excavation 203 Watling Street, Towcester’

11 APPENDIX 1: Sites and Monuments Records within a 150m search radius of the site

No. NGR SMR Type Period Comments 1 69214889 726/0/135 Roman Features Observed during watching brief (NA 1997) 2 69224868 726/5 No date Negative Evaluation 3 692486 7205/29 Medieval Structure The Tabarb (Talbot): Sponne House 4 69224869 726/0/131 Roman Features Posthole and spread revealed during evaluation (Parry 1995) 726/5/3 Roman Features Evaluation revealed evidence of road (Parry 1995)- 5 69234872 726/0/47 Roman Site Timber building found during excavation 1976 726/5/1 Roman Road 726/0/111 Roman Site Possible building 726/0/6 Roman Site Building 6 69244875 727/0/93 Modern Features Ex revealed only modern well and drains (Webster 1994) 7 69254874 727/2 Late Saxon to late Defenses Observed during watching brief medieval 8 69254875 727/6 Undated Site Towcester walls/defences 726/4/0 No date Defences Town defences 9 69254878 727/0/23 Medieval Structure 16th cent shops, listed 10 69254880 726/0/53 Roman Feature 2nd cent. Pit 11 69264872 727/0/58 Medieval Structure 16th cent shops, listed 12 69264873 726/2/5 No date Negative Intervention 1950 13 69264874 726/2 No date Possible site Presumed line of Watling Street 14 69264876 726/4 No date Defences Various field investigations 15 69264877 727/0/44 Medieval Structure 16th cent building, listed 16 69274880 726/0/26 Late Iron Age to Site Evaluation (CAT 1993) Roman 17 69294874 727/14/1 Medieval Structure 17th cent hotel, listed 6045/0/2 Prehistoric Site Ex in 1984 revealed flakes 726/4/9 Roman Site Excavation revealed defences adjacent to Bury Mount (Woodfield 1992) 18 69314869 726/0/15 Roman Finds Pottery and amphora 19 69324870 727/0/34 Medieval Structure 17th cent shop, listed 20 69324871 727/15/1 Medieval Structure 17th cent public house, listed 727/0/39 Medieval Structure 17th cent shop, listed 21 69344881 727/3 Medieval Site Castle, motte and bailey, Scheduled Monument 13623 727/3/1 Medieval Site Motte and inhumations 727/3/2 Medieval Structure Possible tunnel 22 69344882 727/3/3 Medieval/post-medieval Garden 23 6935448683 7205/20 & 727/16 Medieval Structure Chantry House, Listed Gd II* 24 69354868 727/16/2 Medieval Structure Chantry House walls and gateway, Listed 727/17/1 Medieval Structure School and Master's House (former Chantry House), listed Gd II* 25 69354875 726/0/87 Undated Finds Egyptian or Assyrian seal 26 69354893 6045/0 No date Negative Evaluation 27 69364873 726/0/54 Roman Finds Pottery and tile 28 69384866 726/0/93 Roman Feature Stakehole and spread, latter containing pottery 29 6937448734 7205/17 Modern Structure Old Coach House 30 69384867 727/28 Post-medieval Structure Vicarage, Listed 31 69384871 727/0/86 No date Structure Boundary wall, Moat Lane, Listed 32 69384893 727/10 No date Negative Evaluation 727/10/1 Post-medieval ? defences Linear feature during evaluation (1990) 727/0/12 No date Features Finds of pottery, bone, glass and flint found during evaluation (1990) 33 69394870 727/4 Anglo-Saxon Structure Possible site of church 34 69404874 727/0/101 Modern Structure Air raid shelter 35 694489 6044/0/0 Prehistoric Site Flint scatter discovered during evaluation (CAT 1992) 6044 Mesolithic Site 36 69404892 726/13/1 Late Iron Age to Features Ditch and gully and possible cemetery Roman 727/2/10 Post-medieval Feature Ditch and bank revealed during evaluation Cadman 1990)

37 69414869 726/0/44 Roman Site Bronze working site, crucible found 726/0/49 Roman Site Possible building 726/0/50 Roman Site Possible bath house, hypocaust located 38 69414870 6127/1 Medieval Structure St Lawrence Church 727/4/2 Medieval Churchyard Listed 39 69424871 727/4/1 Medieval Structure 727/4/1 Roman Finds Crucible discovered 727/4/3 Anglo-Saxon Find Cross discovered in 15th cent tower 40 69484885 727/0/3 Medieval to post- Site Fishpond earthworks medieval 41 69494875 726/4/6 Roman ? defences Low scarp 42 Linear 726/2/1 Roman Road At least 3 surfaces 43 Linear 1153/0/0 Medieval Road Old Northampton Road 44 6937848713 7205/16 Modern Structure

12 APPENDIX 1: Listed Buildings of post-medieval and unknown date within 150m radius of the proposal site

NGR (SP) SMR Description 6940248773 7205/18/2 Mill House, Listed Gd II 6944148791 7205/18 Water and corn mill 6944148791 7205/18/1 Towcester Mill, Listed Gd II 6921248718 7205/32 Inn 6924048764 7205/24 18th cent, Listed Gd II 6928148756 7205/26 Bank 6929648738 7205/41 Hotel, Listed Gd II 6930648786 7205/23 Post Office 6931548661 7205/33 Inn 6933148709 7205/40 Inn, Listed Gd II 69444878 727/29 Former Water Mill 69324866 727/0/55 18th cent shop, Listed 69324871 727/15 Hotel, Listed 69344867 727/0/89 Telephone kiosk, listed 69344868 727/0/88 Telephone kiosk, listed 69344869 727/0/35 18th cent house, listed 69344869 727/0/36 Post-office 69314866 727/23 Inn, Listed 69314866 727/23/1 17th cent inn, listed 69314866 727/0/56 Listed 69314867 727/0/64 17th cent shop, listed 69294874 727/14 Hotel, Listed 69304868 727/0/65 18th cent house, listed 69304868 727/0/66 House, listed 69274869 727/24 Talbot Inn, Listed 69274871 727/0/57 17th cent shop, listed 69274876 727/0/24 18th cent shop, Listed 69274876 727/0/25 19th century shop, listed 69264877 727//045 16th cent building, listed 69264872 727/0/77 18th cent shop, Listed 69254879 727/0/22 19th cent shop, listed 69254875 727/0/59 19th cent shop, listed 69244876 727/0/60 19th cent shop, listed 69244879 727/0/21 Bank, listed 69254874 727/0/67 18th cent shops, listed 6924872 727/0/76 18th cent house, listed 69214874 727/0/69 18th cent house, listed 69224878 727/0/61 18th cent shops, listed 69234880 727/0/37 19th cent house, listed 69234880 727/0/38 19th cent house, listed 69234881 727/0/18 House, listed 69234881 727/0/19 18th cent shop, Listed 69244874 727/0/20 18th cent shop, Listed

13 APPENDIX 2: Historic and modern maps consulted

1576 Saxton’s map of Northamptonshire and surrounding counties 1610 Speed’s map of the county of Northamptonshire (Fig. 4) 1645 Blaeu’s map of the county of Northamptonshire 1779 Faldon’s map of the county of Northamptonshire (Fig. 5) 1806 Plan of Estate belonging to the Earl of Pomeret 1840 Plan of Estate belonging to the Earl of Pomeret 1846 Tithe map of the Parish of Towcester 1848 Map of the Parish of Towcester in Northamptonshire (Fig. 6) 1874 Dorman’s map of the county of Northamptonshire 1884 First Edition Ordnance Survey Sheet 56NW (Fig. 7) 1900 Ordnance Survey Sheet LVI.6 (Fig. 8) 1952 Ordnance Survey Sheet 56NW 1957 Ordnance Survey Sheet SP 64NE (Fig. 9) 1977 Ordnance Survey Sheet SP 6848-6948 1990 Ordnance Survey Sheet SP 64NE (Fig. 10)

14 APPENDIX 3: Trench details 0m at S or W end

Trench Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment 1 6.00 1.40 SE1.40 0.05m concrete onto 0.13m of brick rubble onto a thin black silty NW1.80 levelling layer onto 0.80m of layer (58), a buried soil. This lay above an earlier buried soil (65) which seals intercutting pits and a gully (features 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). 2 6.90 1.40 1.42 0.06m concrete onto 0.18m of brick rubble onto a thin black silty levelling layer onto 1.00m of layer (50), a buried soil. This layer sealed a series of intercutting pits (features 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

15 APPENDIX 4: Pottery occurrence by number and weight (in g) of sherds per context by fabric type

Roman F330 F324 F403 F407 F1000 Trench Feature Fill No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt 1 U/S 2 28 1 4 1 33 3 171 1 58 2 80 2 56 1 6 57 7 129 1 7 59 8 110 4 61 1 8 60 1 29 2 39 1 9 61 1 19 1 10 62 3 23 1 11 63 2 12 1 12 1 12 64 1 12 1 15 2 U/S 22 213 2 50 2 18 2 71 2 1 51 3 32 2 1 52 10 257 2 2 53 32 335 2 3 54 3 51 2 4 55 3 63 2 5 56 7 65 Total 107 1396 10 207 1 4 1 33 3 171 4 127

16 APPENDIX 5: Animal bone

Trench Feature Fill Cow Csz S/G SSz Pig Chicken Dog Unidentified Total 2 50 1 1 2 1 51 1 1 2 2 53 6 10 5 1 2 24 2 3 54 1 1 2 2 4 55 1 1 2 5 56 1 1 1 3 1 6 57 2 2 1 7 59 1 1 1 1 2 6 1 9 61 1 1 1 10 62 1 3 2 6 1 11 63 2 1 1 4 1 12 64 2 2 4 1 U/S 1 1 1 58 1 1 Total 10 17 10 6 3 3 1 7 57

17 APPENDIX 6: Tile by number, type and weight

Trench Feature Fill Tegula Imbrex Peg tile Unidentifed 1 U/S 2 (246g) 1 6 57 1 (10g) 1 7 59 1 (55g) 1(90g) 1(5g) 1 8 60 1 (5g) 1 9 61 1 (5g) 1 10 62 5 (26g) 2 50 1 (32g) 2 1 51 1(88g) 2 3 54 1 (34g)

18

Plate 1. Trench 1 looking north west. Scales 2m and 1m

Plate 2. Trench 2 looking north east. Scales: 1m and 0.5m