Title: |
Excavation of a motte and bailey castle at Bury Mount, Towcester, Northamptonshire, July-September 2007 |
Series: |
Northamptonshire Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
northamp3-55377_1.pdf (62 MB)
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Download
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Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
Bury Mount is the site of a Norman motte and bailey castle. The earliest features and deposits preserved beneath Bury Mount are probably of Roman origin. Two substantial pits were excavated which were sealed by buried soils. These began a sequence of deposits which continued through the post-Roman period. They were continually disturbed whilst accumulating new material. New interventions comprised ditches which silted up naturally during their period of use. They were deliberately backfilled in the late 11th century. Following this a stone building was constructed on top of the soil accumulation. It was probably short-lived since a Norman motte was constructed soon after the Conquest, by mounding up a circular ring of embanked earth which formed the base. The motte was raised using sandy clay and gravels excavated partly from an encircling defensive ditch and other material from further afield. It was tipped onto the ring of earth, raising its height and allowed to spread down into the centre to create a gigantic cone. This was then capped. By the later medieval period the motte was probably disused until modified during the Civil War. During the 19th century the Mount was planted with trees. Two cottages were cut into the south side and widespread horticulture was in evidence well into the 20th century. The surrounding ditch survived as a 19th-century watercourse which was intermittently maintained through the 20th century. The cottages were abandoned and demolished soon after. |
Author: |
J Brown
Iain Soden
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Publisher: |
Northamptonshire Archaeology
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Northamptonshire SMR (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2007
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Locations: |
Site: |
Bury Mount, Towcester |
Parish: |
TOWCESTER |
District: |
West Northamptonshire |
County: |
Northamptonshire |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 469280, 248880 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
EARLY MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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SHERD
(Object England)
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MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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Pottery, Tile
(Find)
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POST MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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Pottery, Tile, Clay Tobacco Pipes, Lead Seals, Glass Garden Domes
(Find)
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ROMAN
(Historic England Periods)
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Pottery, Tile, Coins, Glass
(Find)
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POST MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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BUILDING
(Monument Type England)
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MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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Motte
(Monus)
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POST MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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PIT
(Monument Type England)
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ROMAN
(Historic England Periods)
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Pits, Layers
(Monus)
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
northamp3-55377 |
OBIB: |
07/193 |
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Note: |
A4, blue spine, heat bound, clear cover
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
24 Nov 2016 |