Monument record 1660/1 - Romano-British Villa East of Fotheringhay Lodge

Site of a Roman villa, just above the River Nene flood-plain at 50ft above OD. Air photographs show a rectangular building, 36m by 13m, orientated E-W with traces of internal walls. Further south is another similar building and to the west a large rectangular enclosure. On the ground both buildings are marked by dense patches of limestone and similar areas nearby indicate the existence of further buildings. Finds include roof tiles, tesserae, pottery including samian, and glass. A small trial excavation on the main building in 1970 revealed a stone floor. Iron Age and Roman burials and finds. Pottery of Iron Age and Roman dates was discovered here as well as Roman coins, a bronze ring two bronze mounts and two iron knives. Many of these finds are now in Taunton Castle Museum. All were apparently associated with twenty contracted skeletons.

{1} A large stone building. Late pottery sherds, mainly colour-coated ware. An important wet and boggy area with possible environmental remains. There was no painted plaster, no tesserae or flue tiles, but red roof tile was found at this location. D. Hall thinks this building is probably the most important of the three stone buildings found in his fieldwalking survey here.

{2} A large site on gravel and sand. Three large stone buildings found, the southernmost probably being the most important with a red tile roof (TLs 07969422, 07759430 and 07909452). Late pottery sherds, colour-coated mainly. An important wet and boggy area with possible environmental remains.

{3} Amendments made to original grid references as reported following fieldwork.

{4} Many Roman finds mainly grave goods from some twenty contracted inhumation burials including coins and pottery and a Saxon spindle whorl {14}, came from Elton Ballast Pits in the early 20th century.

{6} Elton Ballast Pits are centred at TL 079946 still evident but unworked for many years. St Joseph's site {8} now under plough, no finds of note.

{8} Parch-marks of a rectangular Roman Building approx 110ft by 40ft and other nearby occupation evidence.

{9} TL 079947 Surface finds in 1970 included building material. Trial excavation in October 1970 by Upex and Hadman on the site of aisled barn (8) revealed possible floor base and to the south an apparent road. Further trenches 800ft to south revealed evidence of a second building finds from the site suggest 2nd-4th century occupation.

{10} Roman Villa (TL 079944), just above the R Nene flood-plain at 50ft. Above OD. Air photographs show a rectangular building, 36m by 13m, orientated E-W with traces of internal walls. Further S is another similar building and to the W a large rectangular enclosure. On the ground both buildings are marked by dense patches of limestone and similar areas nearby indicate the existence of further buildings. Finds include roof tiles, tesserae, pottery including samian, and glass. A small trial excavation on the main building in 1970 revealed a stone floor. Iron Age and Roman Burials and Finds (TL 08009476). Pottery of Iron Age and Roman dates was discovered here as well as Roman coins, a bronze ring two bronze mounts and two iron knives. Many of these finds are now in Taunton Castle Museum. All were apparently associated with 20 contracted skeletons.

{13} Cropmark. Rectangular buildings and an aisled barn of a Romano-British villa. 25 inch scale sketch plot.

{15} Roman Villa identified on AP in 1980.

{16} Listed in gazetteer of Roman villas.

[SMR note 12/01/2012: not sure how this building relates to the cropmark-defined building. They may be one and the same]

<1> HALL D.N., 1991, Fieldwalking Catalogue, 75/S (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN46457.

<2> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, Fotheringhay/Site 2 (unchecked) (Database). SNN102279.

<3> Hall D., 2011, Roman Villa at Fotheringhay (email), (checked) (Correspondence). SNN107864.

<4> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 217 (Series). SNN100368.

<5> Aerial Photograph, (St Joseph ZB20) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<6> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 FDC 22-OCT-70 (Notes). SNN111540.

<7> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP:TL0794/074 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<8> 1961, The Journal of Roman Studies, p. 119-38 (Journal). SNN11345.

<9> Brown, A E (ed), 1971, Bulletin of the Northamptonshire Federation of Archaeological Societies, p. 17-8 (Journal). SNN13960.

<10> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 40/Site 12 (Series). SNN77379.

<11> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, TL09SE1 (Index). SNN443.

<12> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, TL09SE18 (Index). SNN443.

<13> Nene Valley Research Committee SMR Records (Index). SNN4499.

<14> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, ALF Rivet 21.6.54 (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<15> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1981, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1980, p. 207 (Article). SNN100418.

<16> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, p. 143/ Site NH44 (Monograph). SNN110345.

<17> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Inf G Wyman Abbott (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<18> WHISTLER, 1892, History of Elton, p. 63-4 (Book). SNN48012.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:15PM