Monument record 2657/1 - Little Weldon Roman Villa

Roman Villa found in 1738 and partly excavated, but re-excavated in 1954–5. Three periods of building were established, the final phase being a winged corridor villa. It was first occupied in the late 1st or early 2nd century and was abandoned in the late 4th century. A series of mosaic pavements was recovered as well as a coin dating from the mid 4th century.

{1} Roman Villa, north of the village, on limestone at 84 m. above OD. It was found in 1738 and partly excavated, but was re-excavated in 1954–5. Three periods of building were established by the excavation, the final phase being a winged corridor villa. It was first occupied in the late 1st or early 2nd century and was abandoned in the late 4th century. A series of mosaic pavements was recovered as well as a coin dating from the mid 4th century. Various out-buildings were found [indexed separately], including a workshop with three furnaces, probably used in iron-working.

{2} A 1st phase wooden building represented by 15 postholes was replaced in the late C1st-2nd by a half-timbered house which was destroyed by fire c.200 AD. One room of the villa was heated. It also had a central arched entrance 10.5ft wide.

{4} Plans.

{12} The first stone-footed building was dated as c.50AD to c.200AD. The overall length of the building was 25.6m and its width some 7.92m. A veranda possibly ran along the west side. As originally built the house appears to have comprised a rectangular block of four rooms. Some kind of internal fixtures may be inferred from two groups of stone-packed postholes which had survived in rooms 3 and 4. A possible ritual hearth was found in room 3. The house appears to have been decorated in Roman fashion. At least some of the internal walls had been plastered (red and white). The roof had clay tiles. The house was burnt down c.200AD. Building plans. A possible bath house in existence during this phase is suggested by a stray fragment of roller-stamped box tile. Its suggested date is c.170-190 AD.

A new house was built over the destroyed remains of the first on exactly the same orientation. It was significantly larger. C.33.5m and up to 11.3m wide. Initially it comprised a range of six rooms flanked on the east by a corridor and possibly a cross-passage towards the south end. Rooms 1,2 & 3 were interpreted as possibly for staff and domestic activity including cooking. Rooms 4, 5 & 6 were thought to be for the family. Further suggestions were that Room 4 was opposite the entrance way so it could have been a reception area for guests. The expansion of the villa in the C4th changed the set-up. The north wing of the villa was further enlarged in the C4th and three rooms were added progressively over time. There was also the addition of a kitchen and bakehouse, which contained the remains of an oven, at the rear. The entranceway was enhanced with a gravel approach etc. Also redevelopment of the bath suite took place. The bath house walls appear to have been built as one with the south end corridor. Originally it was two rooms. Plaster walls. Successive stakeholes and hypocaust. The two rooms contained Frigdarium, apodyterium, caldarium and tepidarium. At some time possibly in the C4th a semi-circular apse was constructed at the rear which gave the bath suite more luxury.
Room 6 was dramatically changed. It probably became the principal family room, it was next to the bath suite and had a channelled hypocaust built. Since 200 the villa had gained many tesselated pavements and plastered rooms. The villa is thought to have survived up to 400 AD and possibly beyond.

{20} Several pieces of Romano-British pavement were ploughed up in a field at Weldon. Tesserae were 1.5 inches square. This represented a Romano-British villa with mosaics and possible ironworking furnaces. A paved area 20 x 30yds was excavated. Several silver and bronze coins were found including some of Constantine. The present Lord Halton …" has caused a handsome stone house to be built over it to preserve this curious piece of antiquity".

{19} A Roman villa with mosaic pavements was discovered. One of the pavements is now a wall decoration at the British Steel Corporation offices at Corby.

{31, 32} A geophysical survey, comprising both magnetometer survey and earth resistance survey, was undertaken over the site of the villa as part of a heritage management and strategy plan. A detailed plan of the main villa complex was identified. Individual rooms identified during the earlier excavations, such as the bathhouse and bakehouse/kitchen, were observed.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.164/Site 3 & Fig 146 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> 1954, The Journal of Roman Studies, p.93-95 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN27024.

<3> 1955, THE JOURNAL OF ROMAN STUDIES, p.135 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN38928.

<4> 1956, THE JOURNAL OF ROMAN STUDIES, p.131-134 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN38929.

<5> Stukeley W., 1757, Carausius, p.169 (unchecked) (Series). SNN45518.

<6> 1957, THE JOURNAL OF ROMAN STUDIES, p.213-4 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN38930.

<7> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.814; (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<8> GOUGH, 1806?, ADD. TO CAMDEN II, p.181 (unchecked) (Document). SNN38932.

<9> STEELE, Collections For Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN43986.

<10> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.193 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100368.

<11> 1953, Transactions of The Ancient Monuments Society, p.74-6 (unchecked) (Series). SNN38907.

<12> Smith D.J.; Hird L.; Dix B., 1988-9, The Roman Villa at Great Weldon, Northamptonshire, p.23-67 (checked) (Article). SNN40244.

<13> 1890, CUTTINGS BOOK - ANTIQ. MEMORAN, 81/1 AUGUST (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN43987.

<14> George T.J., 1904, An Archaeological Survey of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Index). SNN10170.

<15> British Topography, p.48 (unchecked) (Series). SNN45517.

<16> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP98NW6 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<17> CADMAN G.E., 1988, Unpublished Report, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN57114.

<18> Weldon Roman Villa, (unchecked) (Photographs). SNN106792.

<19> The Automobile Association, 1986, Secret Britain, (checked) (Extract). SNN45929.

<20> 1740, Northampton Antiquarian Society, (unchecked) (Minutes). SNN45379.

<21> 1739, The Mercury and Herald, 20/08/1739 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN38911.

<22> 1859, Associated Architectural Societies Reports, p.106 (unchecked) (Series). SNN5018.

<23> David Smith?, 1955, Copy of the Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map of Northamptonshire 17.14 showing roughly the position and extent of the Roman villa at Great Weldon, AO2066 (Plan). SNN113218.

<24> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, p. 148; NH 115 (Monograph). SNN110345.

<25> Historic England, ROMAN VILLA SITE AT WELDON, OS55/F4/3 (Archive). SNN113222.

<26> Historic England, PLAN OF SITE OF ROMAN VILLA, F55/4/3 (Archive). SNN113221.

<27> Historic England, Roman Villa Site, Little Weldon, AA98/14323 and 14324 (Archive). SNN113220.

<28> Eayne, T, Letter from Thomas Eayne of Kettering to Sir Edmund Isham relating to the discovery of the pavement.Contents : 1 itemCondition : INTACT, 896201 (Archive). SNN113219.

<29> Historic England, GREAT WELDON ROMAN VILLA, OS55/F53/6 (Archive). SNN113223.

<30> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey: Portfolios, ORD01/01 (Archive). SNN113224.

<31> Sykes, C, 2018, Little Weldon Roman Villa, Priors Hall Park, Corby: Geophysical Survey (Report). SNN114277.

<32> Lawrence, L, 2018, Little Weldon Roman Villa, Priors Hall Park, Northamptonshire: Heritage Management Stategy and Plan (Report). SNN114276.

<33> Rainey A, 1973, Mosaics in Roman Britain, p.89 (unchecked) (Book). SNN102978.

Record last edited

May 22 2023 12:25PM