A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



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Steane Castle. 



Steane Castle or Manor House (2 J miles N.W. of Brackley). — 

 This site of the ancient building, now represented by the mansion and its 



grounds commonly called Steane Park, 

 stands 400 feet above sea level and 

 practically upon the low^est land in 

 the neighbourhood, having higher 

 land on all sides except south-east 

 along the course of the stream. A 

 spot was chosen just below one or two 

 water springs, so that a large quantity 

 of water could be collected in moats 

 surrounding the castle and in fish 

 ponds near. Evidently the first build- 

 ing was a homestead built less for 

 defence than for a habitation in time 

 of peace. 



The earthworks consist of one broad ditch or moat with the ballast 

 thrown outward at most points to make a bank or dam for the purpose 

 of forming a water level ; since the tendency of the water is to flow 

 east the strongest bank has been thrown up on that side. Within this 

 moat are two islands, not artificially raised above the natural level (as would 

 have been wise) to make a dry platform on which to build, nor yet ram- 

 parted as is one of the enclosures at Hinton Manor House, i J miles south- 

 south-east, because it was not needed to obtain the water level, and the 

 springs not being far away no great rush of water would occur. The moat 

 proper is now more or less dry, but in its original state would have been 

 much deeper. 



The three long fish ponds running roughly north and south still contain 

 water and fish. The pond on the east is now practically dry, but the springs 

 in that on the south still bubble, though the dell itself is no longer watertight, 

 and is being filled up gradually. The chapel is a fifteenth-century building. 

 The subsoil is stone and marl. The position commands the close immediate 

 neighbourhood only. The remains stand within private grounds. 



UNCLASSIFIED EARTHWORKS 

 [Class X] 



Aston le Walls (9 miles S.W. of Daventry). — Here are according to 

 the Ordnance Survey some slight irregular entrenchments. 



East Farndon: Hall Close (i| miles S.W. of Market Harborough). — 

 This entrenchment stands upon ground 500 feet above sea level and 200 feet 

 above a stream which flows north one mile west. The manner of 

 entrenching is unusual, a ditch having been dug and the ballast thrown 

 outward. Though there is a slight fall upon the east and the position 

 would lend itself for an enclosed stronghold, it seems to be the line 

 of defence for temporary use against an enemy on the west. Three and 

 three-quarter miles south-south-west is the site of the battle of Nasebv, 



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