21 The pitched stone foundations of another building were found similar to that located on site 'A' (Journal of the Nipton Museum No. 11 1974) and lay on a similar alignment, but approximately 150' away to the S. Beneath the stone spreads were several earlier features associated with Clst AD. A subrectangular pit contained Belgic pottery and iron slag, presumably indicating the existence of nearby iron smelting. Only 3' from the above pit, was a 'V' shaped ditch running in a N.-S. direction, this was some 2' deep x 2'6" wide of similar date. The filling was similar to that of the nearby pit. Cutting through the stone surface and at right angles to the above ditch was another ditch, '1.1' shaped and recut once, 3'3" wide x 2'6" deep. It contained building debris, burnt limestone and bunter pebbles. A coin of Tetricus was found in the top filling. A small paste intaglio depicting Bacchus, surrounded by a wreath of vine leaves, a bronze needle, a fragment of a silvered bronze mirror and various fragments of scrap bronze were found amongst the stone surfaces. A bronze manicure set and ring from the sub-rectangular pit, dated to c.AD70. and two Urbs Roma coins were found in the soil above the stone spreads. QUINTON - The Moated Manor - R.M. Friendship- Taylor. (Fig. 3) Excavation has progressed at the Moated Manor site (Med. Archaeol., XV (1971), 164) and the examinPtion of approximately one third of the site has now been completed. The earliest structures are of wattlework phase dating from the ClIth-C12th. No coherent plan of these features has emerged, and only scatters of stake holes have been found. Late St. Neots type pottery was found together with a sherd of Badorf ware associated with these features. Several depressions and gullies have been located, and a large sump or pit within which were several sherds of Lyveden ware. The main activity on the site took Place during the Cl3th-C14th. Room D contained two ovens, the oval example containing Ole remains of a central pedestal. Apart from charcoal, all that was found was 51b of lead, the structure being very heavily burnt. The W. side of the oven utilised the W. wall of room 'D' reducing the limestone to powder. The second oven was rectangular in shape and was little burnt. Its floor utilised the stone lined drain, which passed underneath at this point. A few charred grains of wheat were found within the charcoal. A fine Cl4th kitchen (J) vas added to the N. of the ?hall. This contained two ovens located in the S.E. and S.W. corners, and an open hearth set against the W. wall. Adjacent to the N. wall was a triangular feature, edged with upright limestone slabs, and filled with pitched limestone. During the early Cl4th the.W. end of the hall (M) was reconstructed and the depression at the W. end levelled up to the main floor area. In this floor make-up Was found a unique piece of sculpture in local Northamptonshire ironstone depicting what appears to be a monkey banging a tabor and holding a key. Carved on the side of the sculpture is a representation of a hùman skull. Also found in the same make-up were two personal seal matrix of Thomas de Longueville. The de Longuevilles married into the de Quentone family in about 1347. At the extreme end of the site is a lime kiln, some 9' in dia., dating to about the Cl3th, and is presumably related to the contemporary building activity. GROVE PRIORY, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Beds. - Humphrey Woods & Dominic Powlesland <strong>for</strong> Bed<strong>for</strong>dshire C.C. and the DoE. Excavations begun in 1973/4 by Mrs. Evelyn Baker were continued in 1975 on this alien priory of the order, of Fontevrault (mid Cl2thearly Cl5th), te be destroyed by sand quarrying. Humphrey Woods exposed a large structure in what is tentatively identified as the main ciaustral area. It measured 12m x 6.8m and was pierced by doors on the W, N.and S. A range of buildings returned N. and S.from this structure, though only a small part of the range lay within the limit of excavation. A porch protected the W. entrance. The structure itself had been robbed to its footings except along a short length of its E. wall. The footings were of pitched carstone whose style suggests a date in the late Cl2th or early Cl3th. A layer of destruction debris sealed the structure and from this large quantities of glazed roof tile, iucluding decorated finials, clunch mouldings ard painted window glass were recovered. These indicate that the building must have been elaborate when standing, and of first importance in the priory.
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