Monument record 594/1 - Early Saxon Cemetery, Watling Street

Possible Saxon inhumation cemetery found in 1845 in or near the agger of the Roman road while it was being dug away for gravel. Six skeletons were found, one with a possible iron spearhead.

{1} Saxon Burials (?) (about SP 596678). According to a note by Sir Henry Dryden in the Dryden collection, six skeletons were discovered in July 1845, on the side of or within the Roman road agger while it was being dug away for gravel. The skeletons were arranged ‘some length-ways and one across the road about 1 foot 6 inches deep’. One of the bodies had with it ‘an iron thing about 1 foot 4 inches long’ probably a spearhead. No other finds were made.

{2} Location unclear from Dryden plan may be a few yards from crossroads (info G. Foard); plan: sketch.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.198 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<2> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, British & Roman Remains (checked) (Archive). SNN115.

<3> Morton R., 1998, Land Adjacent To Ryehill Farm, Long Buckby, Northamptonshire, Archaeological Assessment, (checked) (Report). SNN100014.

<4> Richards J., 2013, Rye Hill, Watford Gap: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, (unchecked) (Report). SNN109596.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:15PM