Monument record 1641/0/86 - Roman capital, relocated from centre of Roman town

Roman capital located in the yard of Chester Farm

{1} Several specimens of capitals from the county are still extant. Irchester stands apart from the others by virtue of its scale, and by its closer adherance to classical prototype, the Corinthian capital. It is severely weathered, and has deteriorated further since its discovery and illustration, and, in comparison to other British examples, except that at Catterick, is relatively crude. The corner volute leaves have a deep-cut central midrib, but otherwise only have simple horizontal cuts to indicate the vegetative form, the characteristic lobes of the acanthus leaf being absent. At the centre the flower is too badly damaged to be recognised as such, but is supported by leaf forms, with crude lobes, which rise instead of from caulicoli, from curious inverted petal forms previously recorded, and now only to be discerned with the eye of faith. The capital was made of two blocks of Welodn stone laid on the natural bedding plane, and cramped together at the top, and further morticed for a dowel and for lifting. The unorthodox form of this capital like the capital like the Catterick example but unlike the large firgured capital suggests a special function, and its being found in loose association with Irchester 2a and 2c, the top and bottom sections of an octagonal drum with relief figures in niches, raises the strong possibility that it is from another Jupiter column.

From Burrow Field excavations, 1879, from building at centre of town and close to the supposed temple. Width: approx 1030 mm. Diameter: approx 700-720mm. Loose grained well developed oolite, set with bedding horizontal. Probably Weldon stone. Vertical half of capital derived from Corinthian type, with concave sides and corner volutes (broken), supported by lobeless leaves bearing transverse cuts and midrib only. Central flower form broken, and supported by crudely lobed leaves springing from what in 1879 appeared to be inverted trefoils. Top face of capital has cramp hole and roughly chased channel for metal tew to second half of capital, also a dowel hole and round ended mortice, perhaps for handling purposes.

{2} Condition report and photos.

{4} The stone capital and the stone Sarcophagus piece have been removed safely from their original sites and are now stored undercover at Victoria Mills, Wellingborough.

{5} Brief for safe removal of capital and sarcophagus

<1> Woodfield P., 1978, Roman Architectural Masonry From Northamptonshire, p.71, 81 (checked) (Article). SNN101140.

<2> Cadman G., 1999, Irchester, Chester Farm: Report On The Roman Capital, (checked) (Report). SNN101306.

<3> Cadman G., 1999, Irchester, Chester Farm, (checked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN101141.

<4> Gunning A., 2001, Correspondence, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN101138.

<5> Cadman G., 1999, Irchester, Chester Farm: Guidance Brief For Safe Storage of a Roman Capitol & Sarcophagus Fragment, (checked) (Report). SNN101139.

Record last edited

Nov 28 2018 1:30PM