Monument record 101/1 - Brigstock Romano-British Shrines

Site of Roman temples dating from the 3rd century to late 4th century. Two shrines of circular and polygonal shape, probably part of a larger group, were erected early in the second half of the third century AD and occupied until late in the fourth century.

{1} Two shrines of circular and polygonal shape, probably part of a larger group, were erected early in the second half of the third century AD and occupied until late in the fourth century.

{2} The Circular Shrine
The structure consisted of a wall foundation of pennanular shape, of an average width of 2 ft. 6 in,inserted into the natural subsoil to a depth of 1 foot. The internal width was 32 ft 6in. Th efoundation was composed of pitched limestone slabs with raw clay packing in places. The entrance to the shrine was on the east side between the squared ends of the foundation and was 6 feet wide. Within the interior, against the south east wall edge was a line of three unused wall-blocks, two of which had evidently been subjected to heat and had been burnt pink. These blocks had been placed against the wall edge deliberately and were seated on the floor of the shrine. These blocks could be a bench or an internal doorstep for a secondary entrance. [More detail].

The Polygonal Shrine
The polygonal shrine was 20 feet south of the circular shrine. It was represented by two segments of pitched limestone slab foundation, 2 ft. 6 in. in width, laid in a trench cut into the subsoil. The average depth of the foundation was 1 foot. The remainder of the plan of the building was recovered by tracing the mortary rubble-filled foundation trench. The internal width was 24 feet north to south by 26 feet east to west. The entrance was on the east side and consisted of an opening 7 feet in width between the squared ends of the foundation. The exterior metalling did not enter the entrance as it did in the circular shrine, but terminated on the north side of the entrance, close to the foundation end. [More detail]

A metalled surface connected the two shrines.

{5} Finds found over periods of time of excavation up to 1986. Statuette of a horse,small figurine of a goat, short hollowcast handle, flat horizontally protuding projecting handle of a skillet or similar pan, a type of suspension device cast as one piece with a small loop at the centre, a bronze miniature axe and a rider statuette.

{8} A bronze miniature axe and a rider statuette were found at Brigstock in 1972, almost certainly at the site of the Romano-British shrines. Descriptions and drawings.

{9} The Roman bronze votive figure of a horseman and a miniature axe published in the Antiquaries Journal in 1981 were sold in 1987 and acquired by the British Museum.

{10} Bronze horse & rider. Info: A.Warhurst at Northampton Museum

{11} 2 Bronze horse & rider statuettes from SP961858: description and plate. Also a curious object, pierced with holes along its edges, probably to hold rings from which dangled bells or metal objects which made a noise to frighten evil spirits away. A good deal of pottery has also been picked up on the site. The number of finds might suggest a Roman shrine was situated here.

{12} Comparison with similar finds from elsewhere.

{14} SP 963859. A Coritanian gold coin was found by excavations conducted by E Greenfield, 1961, "on the earth floor of a circular R.B building along with R.B. bronzes and numerous coins of 3rd and 4th
centuries A.D" (a).

{16} Two Roman temples were built in the 3rd cent at Brigstock and continued in use until the late 4th cent. The N temple was 37.5ft diameter with walls 2.5ft thick, and 20ft to the S was a 12 sided temple varying in diameter from 29.5ft to 32ft and built over and inside a probably Iron Age ditch.
The finds included 278 coins of the 1st to 4th cents, including a coritanian stater of 25 AD, 3rd and 4th cent sherds, and models including three pairs of bronze model horses and riders.

{17} The indicated site is now under winter crop. Not visible on available air cover.

{18, 19} Further excavation by Greenfield in 1970 revealed the remains of two more circular structures. Finds included 50 coins (1st to 4th century), another bronze horse and rider statuette, part of a bronze letter T and other bronze and iron objects of votive use.

{20} Iron Age and Roman settlement and Roman Temple (SP 961858) lie in the east of the parish on high ground at just over 300ft above OD on Boulder Clay. Excavation in 1961 and 1970 revealed stone buildings, three circulr and one polygonal, lying inside and on top of an Iron Age ditch. The temple was apparently erected in the 3rd century and continued in use until the late 4th century. Finds include many coins of the 1st to 4th centuries, pottery, and bronze statuettes of horses and riders. Iron Age pottery has also been found further to the north (at SP 95988605).
Scatters of Roman pottery have been found further to the south east around SP 963857 and tiles, pottery and one mid 3rd century coin have been discovered 200m to the east of the temple (SP 963859). These finds are probably to be associated with it.

<1> 1969, Journal of The Northampton Museum and Art Gallery (5), p.49 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN552.

<2> GREENFIELD E., 1963, The Romano-British shrines at Brigstock in Northants, pp.228-263 (unchecked) (Article). SNN76074.

<3> Woodfield P., 1978, Roman Architectural Masonry From Northamptonshire, p.79 (unchecked) (Article). SNN101140.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.187 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<5> Dix B., 1986, Some Further Roman Bronzes From Brigstock, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Article). SNN102308.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.21 site 4 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77379.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP98NE9 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<8> WHEELER H., 1981, Two Roman Bronzes from Brigstock, Northamptonshire, p. 308-11 (unchecked) (Note). SNN106464.

<9> Musgrave E.C.; Tingle M. (editors), 1991, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1990, p.109 (unchecked) (Article). SNN100325.

<10> SITE RECORDS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN36853.

<11> TAYLOR M.V., 1957, A Roman bronze statuette from Northamptonshire, p.71-72 (checked) (Journal). SNN36854.

<12> Hildyard, E.J.W., 1958, Another Roman bronze statuette, p.245-46 (unchecked) (Note). SNN36855.

<13> Brindle, T., 2008, Northamptonshire (Draft) (Chapter). SNN106263.

<14a> ORAL REPORT, Inf. Sarnia Butcher. (Oral Report). SNN53287.

<14> Rivet, A L F, 1961, Letter, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN55147.

<15> Greenfield E., 1970, Brigstock, Northants: List of finds sent sent to Ancient Monuments Laboratory (Finds Recording Form). SNN111805.

<16> LEWIS M.J.T., 1965, Romano-British Temples, p. 80 (Book). SNN28164.

<17> Colquhoun, FD, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 FDC 10-NOV-1969 (Notes). SNN112950.

<18> 1972, Archaeological Excavations (Various Years), Archaeol Excavs 1970 21 (E Greenfield) (Series). SNN55389.

<19> 1972, Britannia, p. 353 (Journal). SNN47361.

<20> Brown A.E. (Ed.), 1969, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1967/68 (Roman), p. 7 (Article). SNN58198.

<21> 1975, The Archaeological Journal (132), p. 34-61, list 62 (No.9) 64 (No.42) illust 67, 69 (MJ Green) (Journal). SNN35797.

<22> Historic England, Undated, Brigstock Roman Temple photographs (Archive). SNN113442.

<23> Historic England, Undated, Society of Antiquaries: Brigstock Circular Shrine, Northamptonshire, SOA01 (Archive). SNN113443.

<24> Wilson D.R., 1971, Roman Britain in 1970, p. 266 (Journal). SNN58458.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:10PM