Northamptonshire Archaeology 23

Late Neolithic/Beaker occupation was found beneath one of the Roman buildings. The earliest Roman phase may have been a single-roomed house. which was extended in the mid-second century building phase. The main villa house, incorporating a bath suite, was built during the mid-second century, together with a timber shrine and various agricultural buildings. The baths, and probably the main house, fell into disuse in the later second century and were demolished. The site was reorganised with the construction of a temple of Romano-Celtic plan and of a new agricultural building late in the second century: the original simple house may now have been the only residence. Around AD280 there were alterations to the temple, possibly related to a large pit group of pottery and coins of this date. The simple house and agricultural buildings fell into progressive disuse during the third and fourth centuries, but the temple may have been standing after AD400. The function of the religious foci on rural estates is discussed. Some sixth and seventh century pottery indicated Saxon activity

A programme of archaeological and architectural survey was carried out at St Mary’s Priory Church, Canons Ashby, in 1988-9 in advance of restoration by the National Trust. The survey contributed to the reconstruction of the configuration of the 13th century Augustinian priory which originally occupied the site. Historical sources document the foundation of the priory in the mis-12th century, and a major period of church and conventual building in the 13th century. Archaeological work showed that the familiar pattern of a priory church flanked by a square cloister with east, west and south ranges, was probably followed at Canons Ashby. Ironstone footings of part of the church, claustral and other buildings were exposed, suggesting that an alley bordered the west and south ranges of the cloister, and revealing the morphology and dimensions of the south range of the priory. Excavations also confirmed that the church was reduced to its present state at the Dissolution, with the demolition and subsequent levelling and robbing of the claustral ranges. Adjacent to the north side of the tower, a plain tiled floor of late 16th/early 17th century date was revealed, corroborating Baker’s account that a building was formerly attached to this part of the church.

Summaries of fieldwork carried out in Northamptonshire during 1990