ENN105083 - Chester Farm 2009-10 (Geophysical survey)

{1} Northamptonshire County Council commissioned Northamptonshire Archaeology to conduct a geophysical survey on land around Chester Farm, Irchester, Northamptonshire. The purpose of the survey was to provide an enhanced understanding of the nature and extent of archaeological remains associated with Irchester Roman town in order to inform the future management of the site. The new survey area comprised two blocks of land. To the east of Chester Farm there were several fields, bounded to the north by the River Nene, to the south by the A45 and to the east by the railway line from Wellingborough to Bedford (Areas 2-6). Some small fields in this area were not surveyed because high vegetation or steep slopes made survey impractical. To the west of Chester Farm there was a single area taking in the interior of the walled Roman town itself (Area 1). Field 7 lay outside the north-east corner of the walled town, to the west of Chester Farm. The survey here was intended to further define the Roman road previously identified immediately outside the eastern town defences. No significant anomalies were found, possibly due to the presence of a modern trackway at this point. A total area of 20.55ha was surveyed, and the fieldwork was conducted between November 2009 and early January 2010. The completion of the survey of the land at Chester Farm has provided not only the complete layout of the town but also evidence for Iron Age farms preceding the Roman town and for the subsequent medieval hamlet and post-medieval ironstone extraction. The comprehensive nature of the survey has identified the full surviving extent of the nucleated elements of the Roman town, and the associated road system (Fig 10).