Monument record 1737/2 - Stanwick Roman Villa

The villa developed from an agricultural village originating in the late 1st to 3rd centuries AD. More complex buildings appeared from the mid-3rd century AD and one aisled building was increasingly elaborated, finally being incorporated into a winged corridor villa in the late 4th century AD. The development of the main building was accompanied by the creation of a large enclosure to the front which cut across former boundaries and building groups. Although there was a marked change in the character of occupation in the early 5th century AD, activity continued here well into the 5th century.

{2} Incorrect siting of a Roman building recorded on aerial photographs by J.K.St.Joseph. Gives SP964708. Should be SP97137180 as for Ref {3}.

{3} Roman buidling visible from the air, where a slight mound is shown. This is the site previously and erroneously recorded at SP964708 (see Ref {2} above). Fieldname evidence shows it to be the location of the site mentioned by Bridges as Meadow Furlong, Stanwick, and again in VCH I.

{5} Analysis of the sculpture and architectural stone found during excavation. Sometime after AD 364, the initial aisled hall was extended with wings to the north-east and south-west with a fronting corridor terminating in projecting wing rooms. Mosaics were found in the south-western wing and porticus and the western room had a channeled hypocaust. A new bath suite was present in the north-eastern wing. The great majority of the sculptural and architectural stone was found built into stonework associated with this phase of expansion. In all there are 280 separate pieces including around 30 sculptural stones, some almost in the round and two with remains of insciptions, c90 with architectural carvings or mouldings. There are one or perhaps two small altars. The finely carved reliefs probably originated from two large monuments: a tower tomb and another prehaps dedicated to the Capitoline Triad (composed of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva) .

{6} Romano-British villa developed in two phases. An aisled building which was used for both living quarters and grain processing was erected during 3rd century and in the later 4th century two wings and a corridor were added. One of the wings contained a bath suite. Mosaics were added to the complex as late as 370 AD.

{7} Trial excavation of the site of the villa in 1984 showed that it was probably of 'winged corridor' plan. At least two of its southern rooms and the corridor had been paved with polychrome geometric mosaics in the mid-4th century. Larger scale excavations in 1985 revealed the remains of a 2nd-century circular building, later replaced by a rectangular structure with a possible corridor on the east. A stone-lined grave with an adjacent cist containing the skeleton of a miniature dog was also found.

{10} At Stanwick, c.1.25 miles south of Mallows Cotton, fragments of a tessellated pavement are said to have been found at the further end of 'the meadow furlong'. I was told that the site is west of the village, between it and the Nene.

{12} At Stanwick, c.1.25 miles south of Mallows Cotton, fragments of a tessellated pavement are said to have been found at the further end of 'the meadow furlong'. I was told that the site is west of the village, between it and the Nene, near the south end of a green lane (sometimes fancied to be a Roman road) which runs north to Mallows Cotton

{13} In 1979 a geophysical survey was carried out in the area of the villa, which located substantial stone walls.
Small trial trenches confirmed the presence of the walls and the remains of floors of several phases. Tesserae on the surface indicated the destruction of tessellated floors by ploughing, but In one area a damaged but surviving mosaic pavement was found at a depth of 50cm. The trial trenches suggested a lack of deep stratigraphy in the villa area.

{14} NCCAP: SP9771/005-11+18+19+22-27.

{20} Detail of inscription from a dedicatory panel found at the villa.

{23} Roman building visible from the air at SP 97107178, where there is a slight mound. This is the site photographed by St Joseph, but incorrectly placed by him at SP 964708 (see SP 97 SE 12). Field name evidence shows it to be the location of the site mentioned by Bridges as Meadow Furlong, Stanwick, and again in VCH I. (The St Joseph cropmarks actually appear to be situated at SP 97137180. See Moore's plan).

{24} SP 971717. Site of Roman villa seen from the air. Many 2nd to 4th century sherds; large red, white and grey tesserae; tiles including flue tiles; and oyster shells have been found.

{25} Stanwick Roman village excavation. The villa was located in the first season of excavation, 1984. The features, including three mosaics were just below the topsoil, it also became apparent the villa was but a part of a complex Roman settlement. During 1985 excavation on the villa was suspended in order to investigate Roman remains in a field to the north of the site. Three walled compounds were discovered, initially containing round house structures of a type considered to be a characteristic of Roman Northamptonshire. A rectangular building was found close to the river, by the end of the 2nd century this area had become a small cemetery with up to 17 graves.

Underlying the Roman occupation there were extensive Iron Age remains which were also below a cultivation layer similar to 19th century `lazybeds'. This cultivation layer is dated from the Iron Age to the 2nd century.

During the 1986 season an area of trapezoidal enclosures was investigated where 400 coins had already been found by metal detector users. The most interesting enclosure was a walled courtyard, which was soon replaced by a rectangular house with a small paved courtyard in front. This was then replaced by a more elborate hall on the west side of a turreted, walled courtyard.

To the west down by the river were three circular buildings, but on the higher ground there was another unusual building, possibly a shrine, in the vicinity a miniature bronze axe was recovered and also a pipe clay Venus figurine.

The excavator believes the site should still be classified as a villa as comparative sites in the country have shown that villas were far more complex than previously thought, and that if more villas were investigated intensively they would also prove to be extensive production centres. Alternatively it could be that Stanwick is an example of Roman occupation where villa and village finally merge.

{36} Part of a Roman building has been seen from the air on level ground east of the river at SP 964708(Incorrect siting. For correct position see SP 97 SE 7).

{37}Correct siting SP 9713 7180. Romano-British pits were discovered during the excavation of a soak away. Pottery of the 2nd to 4th century and a coin of Constantine I and Gallienus was recovered from the river gravels.

<1> Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs, 51/1961/134 (unchecked) (Archive). SNN36655.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP97SE7 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP97SE12 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> NEAL D., 1989, The Stanwick Villa, Northants: An Interim Report on the Excavations of 1984-88 (Article). SNN69543.

<5> Coombe, P, Hayward, K, & Henig, M, 2021, The Sculpted and Architectural Stonework from Stanwick Roman Villa, Northamptonshire (Article). SNN115590.

<6> Parry S., 1993, Raunds Area Survey Report, p.77 (unchecked) (Draft). SNN1175.

<7> Dix B. (editor), 1986-7, The Raunds Area Project: Second Interim Report, p15 (Checked) (Article). SNN76070.

<8> FOARD G.R.; PEARSON T., 1985, The Raunds Area Project: First Interim Report, p5 (Checked) (Article). SNN69970.

<9> Neal, D., Excavations at Stanwick (various years), (unchecked) (Note). SNN51767.

<10> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.194 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<11> Reynolds T., 1749, Iter Britanniarum, p.463 (unchecked) (Document). SNN14799.

<12> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.194 (checked) (Series). SNN100368.

<13> JACKSON D., 1981, Trial Trenching at Stanwick, Trench 1 (checked) (Report). SNN1766.

<14> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<15> Crosby, V and Muldowney, L, 2011, Stanwick Quarry, Northamptonshire. Raunds Area Project: Phasing the Iron Age and Romano-British settlement at Stanwick, Northamptonshire (Excavations 1984-1992). Archaeological report: Volume 1 (Report). SNN110902.

<15> Crosby, V and Muldowney, L, 2011, Stanwick Quarry, Northamptonshire. Raunds Area Project: Phasing the Iron Age and Romano-British settlement at Stanwick, Northamptonshire (Excavations 1984-1992). Archaeological report: Volume 2 (Report). SNN112128.

<16> Dungworth, D, 2016, Stanwick, Northamptonshire: assessment of industrial debris (Report). SNN115554.

<17> English Heritage/Historic England, 2012, The Geophysical Survey Database, Survey No: 687, 688 & 689 (Website). SNN76355.

<18> Paynter, S, Mcsloy, E, & Rollo, L, 2003, Provenancing Roman mortaria and coarsewares from Stanwick, Northamptonshire using ICP analysis (Report). SNN115907.

<19> Henig, M & Crosby, V, 2021, Gods and Goddesses, Heroes and Heroines in the Nene Valley: Roman Sculpture from Stanwick, Northamptonshire (Article). SNN115997.

<20> LatinNow, Roman Inscriptions of Britain online database, https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/3135 (Website). SNN115998.

<21> Henry, R, 2021, Coinage and Ritual Deposition at Stanwick, Northamptonshire (Article). SNN115999.

<22> Wilthew, P, 1986, Examination of slag and other material from various sites excavated by the Central Excavation Unit, p. 4 (Report). SNN116000.

<23> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Letter & plan W R G Moore Keeper of Arch Central Museum Northampton 14.4.75 (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<24> Moore W.R.G., 1968, Roman Settlement in the Upper and Middle Nene Valley, p. 1, 5 (Uncertain). SNN15188.

<25> Neal, D., 1987, Stanwick, p. 334-6 (Article). SNN116232.

<26> Frere, S S, Hassall, M W C, and Tomlin, R S O, 1986, Roman Britain in 1985, p. 396-7 (Note). SNN114190.

<27> Frere, S S, Hassall, M W C, and Tomlin, R S O, 1988, Roman Britain in 1987, p. 452-3 (Note). SNN113030.

<28> Frere, S S, Hassall, M W C, and Tomlin, R S O, 1989, Roman Britain in 1988, p. 146-168, 292 (Note). SNN113029.

<29> Frere, S S, Hassall, M W C, and Tomlin, R S O, 1990, Roman Britain in 1989, p. 333 (Note). SNN113031.

<30> Frere, S S, and Tomlin, R S O, 1991, Roman Britain in 1990: Sites explored, p. 252-3 (Article). SNN113642.

<31> Frere, S S, Hassall, M W C, and Tomlin, R S O, 1992, Roman Britain in 1991: Sites explored, p. 285 (Article). SNN114182.

<32> Aerial Photograph, CUCAP AGA8, ZE79-80 (Photographs). SNN112974.

<33> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, RAF CPE/UK/1925 3255-6 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<34> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, p. 147/ NH 102 (Monograph). SNN110345.

<35> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire I (North-East), 890475 (Archive). SNN113295.

<36> 1961, The Journal of Roman Studies, P. 134 (Journal). SNN11345.

<37> Hall D.N., 1972, Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal (Vol.7) (Journal). SNN105868.

Record last edited

Jun 18 2024 12:40PM