Land at Church Street, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire

Oxford Archaeology were commissioned by CgMs Consulting to undertake an
archaeological excavation and watching brief in advance of a new retail development at
Church Street, Irthlingborough. An enclosure ditch was revealed that contained late Roman
and early to middle Saxon pottery together with Roman ceramic building material. There
was slight evidence for late Saxon activity, but otherwise the main occupation of the site
dates to the 12th century. This included a number of rubbish pits, one of which contained
evidence for iron smithing, together with postholes possibly associated with contemporary
structures. A shallow enclosure ditch probably formed part of the later use of the site as
farmland, possibly associated with a nearby manor estate of 13th or 14th century date.Oxford Archaeology were commissioned by CgMs Consulting to undertake an
archaeological excavation and watching brief in advance of a new retail development at
Church Street, Irthlingborough. An enclosure ditch was revealed that contained late Roman
and early to middle Saxon pottery together with Roman ceramic building material. There
was slight evidence for late Saxon activity, but otherwise the main occupation of the site
dates to the 12th century. This included a number of rubbish pits, one of which contained
evidence for iron smithing, together with postholes possibly associated with contemporary
structures. A shallow enclosure ditch probably formed part of the later use of the site as
farmland, possibly associated with a nearby manor estate of 13th or 14th century date.