Braunston Cleves or Fawcliff

Braunston Cleves or Fawcliff
Lost Settlement
Cleve’s Hill, the site of Braunston Cleves also known as Fawcliff
Country	England
State	Northamptonshire
Region	East Midlands
District	Daventry
Municipality	Braunston
Location	North of the village of Braunston
- coordinates	52°18′30″N 1°12′10″W / 52.30833°N 1.20278°WCoordinates: 52°18′30″N 1°12′10″W / 52.30833°N 1.20278°W
Braunston Cleves or Fawcliff within Northamptonshire
Map Ref: SP544682

The lost village of Braunston Cleves or Fawcliff once stood north of the village of Braunston in the English county of Northamptonshire. The village stood on the southwest slope of Cleve’s hill within the parish of Braunston. The history of this settlement is virtually unknown. It is thought that the settlement was part of the 11th-century manor which belonged to William Trusbott. The settlement passed to his daughter, Agatha Meinfelin, who in turn left the village to Delapré Abbey in Northampton. A charter of Edward III confirming the possessions of Delapré Abbey mentions a place called Fawcliff near Braunston.^[1] Nothing is known of why the village was deserted but it had certainly been destroyed by the 18th century.

Remains today

The remains of the village can be found at the head of a small valley where there is a spring. The village stood on the west bank of the water course. There is a series of depressions and platforms which were probably the sites of dwellings. Below the stream at the southern end of the site there are several ditched enclosures along which the stream flows today.^[2]

The settlement stood in a valley below this hill

Surrounding settlements

In close vicinity to the lost village there are three other villages and one small hamlet called Little Braunston. The villages are called Braunston, Braunstonbury and Wolfhampcote of which the last two are both deserted villages.^[3]

References

1. An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in North West Northamptonshire, Page 23. ISBN 0-11-700900-8
2. An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in North West Northamptonshire, ISBN 0-11-700900-8
3. An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in North West Northamptonshire, Page 22, Fig 27. ISBN 0-11-700900-8