Monument record 2058/1 - Romano-British farmstead, Clay Lane

Archaeological excavation undertaken prior to gravel extraction in 1980 identified a probable Roman farmstead comprising timber buildings of the mid-late 1st century AD which were replaced by a two-room stone-built rectangular structure and circular stone building in the late 1st or early 2nd century. Around the buildings was an extensive pattern of field boundary ditches and areas of limestone hardstanding.

{1} Archaeological excavation undertaken in 1980 prior to gravel extraction. The evidence of Romano-British occupation was limited to 'Field 3' and appeared to have a single focus of buildings, though the presence of further timber buildings, unrecognised under salvage conditions, cannot be excluded entirely and it is possible that further buildings remained in the unquarried area particularly to the west. The primary occupation was that of timber buildings comprising a small circular structure represented by a shallow slot and 2 postholes and a post-built structure was represented by 2 or 3 postholes (group 33). Mid to late 1st century. Accumulation of silt and soil possibly indicating a brief and temporary abandonment of the site.

Subsequently a rectangular structure of pitched limestone foundations was constructed with internal clay floors. Evidence of a ceramic and stone roof. Corridor or veranda.Size 14.5m by 9m. Windell compared this possible farmhouse with building 1 at Wymbush, Milton Keynes. Very late 1st or early 2nd century to very late 2nd or early 3rd century.
A pitched limestone wall foundation. Aligned east-west, which is thought to have been a boundary wall (group 29). A circular building was later built against it. Another boundary wall was joined at right angles to original boundary wall creating a yard. Period very late 1st or early 2nd century to end 2nd or early 3rd century. The circular building was about 8m in diameter and built of pitch and flat laid limestone courses with an entrance to the south where 2 postholes suggested the presence of a lightly built porch. Internally there was a gravel floor and hearth. Building later than rectangular farmhouse? And first boundary wall. Finished use end of 2nd or early 3rd century.

A very large pit of uncertain function (group 30) was sampled and shown to have been cut in the late 2nd century AD and backfilled during the 3rd century AD.

{2} A complex of walls and patches of clay floor, interpreted as a rectangular building which had developed in three phases. A number of walls of the farmhouse were represented only by robber trenches, the dimensions of which probably reflect those of the original walls in most cases.
Phase 1 comprised two rooms with walls of pitched limestone blocks on average 0.6m wide. Only one course of stonework was present and it was uncertain whether they had formed 'dwarf walls' or only foundations. Post holes of a timber verandah were found to the east. Two larger post holes in the centre of this were interpreted as a porch structure leading to an entrance.
Phase 2 added a further room to the north. The roober trench here was unusually narrow, possibly suggesting a timber rather than stone wall.
Phase 3 added a narrow room running the length of the building on the east. The walls were of pitched limeston blocks but less substantial that those of the other rooms. It seemed likely they formed a verandah or corridor of low stone walls with timber above,replacing the timber verandah of phase 1. A small area of cobbling was found in the verandah.
Pottery dated phase 1 to late 1st or early 2nd century and phase 2 to early 2nd to early 3rd century. Phase 3 pottery could not be identified by a high proportion of grogged ware may indicate an early date.
A small amount of ceramic and stone tile was found, indicating that the building was tiled with a combination of the two.

A pair of limestone wall interpreted as boundary or enclosing walls. The east-west wall was formed of small pitched limestone blocks. Only a single course was found and its true extent was not revealed. The north south wall was of large flat-laid limestone blocks in a different construction technique to the other wall. It was thought to probably post-date the other. A gap was seen between the walls, presumably for access. No dating evidence was recovered.

A penannular stone wall with internal features was interpreted as a circular stone building. It was of a single phase but post dated the wall it abutted. The wall defined a circle of 8m diameter with an entrance way of 2m in width to the south. Two post holes were found outside the entrance which may have formed a simple porch. Within the circular structure was an area of gravel, possible remnant of a floor. This overlaid a shallow pit filled with burnt limestone and charcoal which was interpreted as a hearth. No tile was found indicating that the building had an organic roof. Considerable amounts of limeastone in the soil suggest that the wall once stood to some height, presumably as a 'dwarf wall' with timber above. Pottery found was dated to the late 1st or 2nd century.

A very large pit containing 4 phases of cutting and filling. It was partially deliberately backfilled and capped with limestone rubble. It was not properly excavated so its exact size and function remained in doubt. At each phase of recutting there was a great deal of burnt material but no evidence of burning in situ which suggests it may have formed a roasting pit or served some other semi-industrial process. The pottery suggests that it was cut in the later 2nd century, recut shortly afterwards and finally filled during the 3rd century.

<1> Windell D., 1983, Clay Lane 1980: Interim Report - An Iron Age and Roman Rural Settlement at Clay Lane, Earls Barton, p.39 (checked) (Article). SNN40207.

<2> Windell D., 1982, Excavations at Clay Lane 1980 Level III: Structural Evidence, p.81 (checked) (Report). SNN75685.

<3> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1981, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1980, p.200 (checked) (Article). SNN100418.

<4> Jones, RT, Levitan, B, Stevens, P & Malim, T, 1985, Clay Lane, Northamptonshire: The Vertebrate Remains (Report). SNN115254.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 6:13PM