More information : (Area centred: SP 50907742) Camp (OE) (1)
British Entrenchment at Brownsover: (See plan). It appears on the
north and west to have been defended by a triple row of ramparts
or banks rising in terraces one above the other, and something of
the same kind may be percieved on the south; on the east are
indications of a vallum, or rampart, and foss running close to the
burial ground of the chapel there; but these earthworks .. are
irregular and, in parts, unconnected ...
A road has recently been cut through the works and has destroyed
much of its ancient character. During its construction, two polished
instruments of bone were found (probably recent modelling tools for
pottery, likewise, several fragments of glazed ware (probably
medieval), a medieval barbed iron arrowhead and a curious small
brass miniature dag or pistol, apparently Elizabethan, the discovery
of which articles evinces this place to have been occupied in the
16th century. In a large field lying adjacent, causeways have
occasionally been disturbed, and traces of a trackway may still be
discerned. (2)
Considered prehistoric and listed under Ancient Defensive Earthworks. (3)
It is worth noting that in 1629 certain aged witnesses deposed that
Brownsover Park, which has been enlarged from the common fields to
30 acres, anciently contained not more than 4 acres, adjoining the
churchyard and its old banks and ditches being still visible". (4)
"Upwards of 60 years ago I was informed of certain ancient British
interments having been discovered here, of the debris of bodies,
with the legs gathered up, and in the recent restoration of the
chapel, beneath the foundations of the north wall of the nave, a
thick plank was discovered beneath which was a human skull". (The
church is early 13th c - See SP 57 NW 21). (For Roman cinerary urn from the chapel yard see SP 57 NW 22). (5)
Excavation of earthworks surrounding Brownsover village in 1954 by
Rugby School Archaeol Soc across the corner of a large field running
from the Leicester Road behind the church. Animal bones, late 13th
or early 14th c. potsherds; 14th c green glazed handled jug fragments
and 2 sherds of St. Neots ware. (Identified Bruce Mitford, British
Museum.) No stratificcation - finds scattered throughout ditch.
The ditch itself was shallow and flat bottomed, without ramparts.
Probably not defensive. (6)
Excavation in 1954. Shallow traces of ditches outside main ditch
dug in 1953, were trenched. Similar result but more St. Neots
ware and finds of a generally earlier nature than the previous years
dig, being sherds of 10th - 11th c. down to 13th-14th c. (7)
Surveyed on Field Document. (8)
There are now no earthworks here of any archaeological significance
and it is doubtful if there ever were; the portion published as such
(OS.25" 1960) is a field road leading to the church, other surveyed
ornament is either natural or terracing resulting from 18th-19th cent road building/landscaping.
The excavated "finds" are no more than might be expected from any
other hamlet with a medieval background.
(Note. The Rugby School reports are not to be relied on for the
dating of finds, unless substantiated). (9)
|