Monument record 3572/1 - Possible Roman Villa at Castle Ashby

Roman building debris including stone, roof tiles, tesserae, pottery and a coin indicate a former structure or villa.

{1} SP858 608. Fieldwalking in March 1968 by R.Hollowell. Finds included Roman pottery including grey ware and colour coated ware, patches of limestone, roof tiles, part of a quern and worked flints.
Further fieldwalking in November 1968 by A.Kirk (UNAS) recovered an AE4 coin of Theodora (2nd wife of Constantius Chlorus) struck under Constantine the Great 308-337 AD and a coin of Tetricus 1.

{2} Area of SP859608. Ashby Park. Dark patches on the ground surface, areas of limestone scatter, Roman pottery, roof tile, tesserae, worked flints, quern fragments found in 1968. Further flints have been found in the field to the north. Coins include Tetricus I and Theodora. An air photograph taken in 1970 shows three small circles, each c.50ft in diameter, lying close together in an irregular east-west running alignment (possibly bomb craters).

{3} Roman Building (SP 858608), N. of the village, on sand at 76 m. above OD. The site consists of dark patches of soil, scatters of limestone, roof tiles, tesserae and Roman pottery, including samian. Two Roman coins, part of a quern and some worked flints have also been found. Some pieces of walls were discovered in situ (BNFAS, 3 (1969), 7; 6 (1971), 5, Castle Ashby (2); OS Record Cards). Air photographs (in NMR) show the dark patches, and a circular feature (at SP 85956075). Further to the W. air photographs show two parallel ditches, orientated N.-S. The W. one overlies the ploughed-out ridge-and-furrow, while the E. one appears to be the line of a headland between two furlongs.

{4} A few flints were found; possibly a Roman villa site.

{6} 8 coins ranging from Tetricus to Constantinius II, copper alloy hook and furniture fittings. Strap decoration similar to material associated with the cavalry. Found Sep/Oct 1992 by S. Barker and identified by Mark Curteis of Northampton Museum (NM E 0441).
Also, Fifteen coins ranging from a corroded dupondius of Antoninus Pius to Constantius II, FEP TEMP REPARATIO (FH) copy, and a Hod Hill type brooch. Found in October 1995 by S.Barker and identified by Mark Curteis of Northampton Museum (NM E 0444).

{7} Seven Roman coins and a nuremberg jetton of Damien Krauwinkle found by metal detecting. Identified by Mark Curteis, Northampton Museum.

{8} Found by Bob Kings in 1993, a coin of Constantinopolis and another of Allectus.

{9} Mr Hollowell has also found walling and samian ware from this Roman building site. He retains the finds.

{10} Listed in gazetteer.

<1> Brown A.E. (Ed.), 1969, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1967/68 (Roman), p.7 (checked) (Article). SNN58198.

<2> HOLLOWELL R., 1971, Aerial Photography and Fieldwork in the Upper Nene Valley, p.5 (checked) (Journal). SNN106546.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.17 Site 7 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<4> HALL D.N., 1978, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (8), p.21 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN60830.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP86SE37 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<6> Curteis M., 1992, Archaeology in Northamptonshire: Notes From Northampton Museum, p.114 (checked) (Chapter). SNN106204.

<7> Curteis M., 1994, SMR Report Form and Finds Catalogue, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49389.

<8> Curteis M, 1993-4, Castle Ashby, p.185 (checked) (Note). SNN104160.

<9> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 03-SEP-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<10> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, p. 141/Site NH25 (Monograph). SNN110345.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:08PM