The Tithe Barn Museum

Our award winning museum

was set up to display the results of the archaeological excavations at the Prebendal Manor and the history of Nassington .

The museum provides a fascinating insight into the history and people of Nassington. For visitors wishing to research their family history the museum holds an extensive archive of Nassington photographs. Activities for children include dressing up, quill pen writing, musical instruments, corn grinding, garden trails and the quest. For information about the museum talks for 2010 see the events page.

The inscribed Anglo-Saxon bone comb fragment was recovered during the archaeological excavations at the manor. To date no other inscribed pieces have been found in Northamptonshire. It shows that someone was literate in Nassington in the 10th century. It might have a name on it, such as Herebeorht, and it might also have had a spell inscribed on it. The use of Old English, rather than Latin, shows how important Anglo-Saxon culture was in laying down the foundations of our modern language.

The History of the World was a partnership between the British Museum the BBC, and museums across the UK. The BBC's local websites partnered with local museums who chose 10 objects that told a history of the world story in each area. BBC Radio Northampton and BBC Look East broadcast features and interviews that told the story behind these chosen 10 objects. The inscribed Anglo-Saxon bone comb fragment was chosen as one of the 10 objects for Northamptonshire.

Many other items are on display in the museum, such as this medieval bone chess piece, and the Roman spindle whorl.