Monument record 3727 - Iron Age and Roman settlement, west of the Old Lodge

Extensive area of cropmarks identified from aerial photographs comprising at least seven ring ditches intersected by by enclosures and lengths of ditch. Parts of the complex have been excavated in advance of quarrying.

{1} Ring Ditches, Enclosures and Pit Alignments (centred SP 879622), cover an area of some 22 hectares, west of the Old Lodge, on the north edge of the parish on gravel at 42 m. above OD. Air photographs (CUAP, ZE 52–9, ZJ 73–4, AVD 43, BCJ 72–3, and in NMR) show a complex pattern of cropmarks. The north-west group comprises at least seven ring ditches of which two are double-ditched (SP 87716230 and 87816225). These are about 20 m.-35 m. in diam. except for one which is only 10 m. in diam. (SP 87756232). The ring ditches are intersected by subrectangular enclosures and lengths of ditch. On the south-west side of this group there is a large circular feature some 60 m. in diam., bounded by an exceptionally wide ditch. Within it and near its south-east side is a U-shaped length of ditch. Immediately to the east is a rectangular enclosure, covering about 1 hectare and intersected by other ditches and two pit alignments the southernmost of which runs south-east for 320 m. (SP 88006230–88236209). The two alignments are themselves crossed at right-angles by a third, traceable for 140 m. immediately east of and parallel with the east side of the enclosure. A ring ditch at SP 88136223 is crossed by another short length of pits and ditches. There are also ditches, enclosures and pit alignments, centred SP 878620 and elsewhere in the surrounding area (OS Record Cards; BNFAS, 6 (1971), 12, Grendon (1)). Iron Age pottery has been found in the area (local inf.).

{7} Cropmarks; St Joseph APs, ditches and parallel lines of pits, at (SP 880623). (Nothing visible on available APs RAF 1947)

{8/9} (SP 879622) Cropmarks of rectangular enclosure with internal building, palisade and other features on APs July 1959 in Northampton Museum.

{10} The St Joseph APs have not been seen and the pit alignments do not show on the Hollowel photos. Nothing of interest could be seen on the ground.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 54-55 (site 7) (Series). SNN77380.

<3> Barker P.P., 1996, Geophysical Survey Carried Out at Grendon Lakes, Area B, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN41098.

<4> Humphrey R., 1997, Land at Grendon Lakes, Northamptonhsire (Area B): An Archaeological Evaluation (Report). SNN62110.

<5> McDonald T.; Last J., 1999, Land at Grendon Lakes, Northamptonshire (Area B): an Archaeological Excavation (Report). SNN43511.

<6> NORTHAMPTONSHIRE HERITAGE, 1998, Grendon Lakes 'Area B' (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN110701.

<7> Hall D.N., 1966, Sites on the North Bedfordshire and South Northamptonshire border, P. 5 (Article). SNN37934.

<8> Northampton Museum Records (Uncertain). SNN126.

<9> Hollowell R., 1970, Hollowell Photographic Collection (Archive). SNN101398.

<10> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, 25-SEP-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<11> Curteis M.; Musgrave E.; Tingle M. (Editors), 1995, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1995, P. 3,32 (Notes). SNN104575.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:09PM