Monument record 1641/3* - Probable Romano-British Temple/Shrine Complex

{1*} Evidence for these at Irchester relies on the limited account of Baker’s excavations in 1879 and the air photographic record for the site. Consequently, it is difficult to give a detailed description of the nature of the temple discovered immediately to the east of the main through road right at the heart of the town. It is clear from Baker’s account and the crop mark evidence that the building was some form of Romano-Celtic temple probably within a precinct and as such is an important example of this kind of ritual centre within a small town in Britain. No clear evidence can be given for its date but its location on a junction at the heart of the defended area of the later roman town may suggest that it was a central to the development of town and a probable reason for its location.

{2*}The main exception appears to be a fairly lavish temple, probably within it own enclosure immediately to the east of the through road and sandwiched between two side roads (1641/9/1).

{3*} A building to the north of the possible public open space comprises two concentric square walls, and is surrounded by further buildings, including a small circular building to the south-west and a larger circular building to the north-east . The form of this building (Fig 4, TC1) is normally characteristic of a temple/shrine comprising a square room, cella, surrounded by a walkway, ambulatory. An excavated example is at Sheepen, Essex (Hull 1958).
The circular structure attached to the north-east end of the building can also be interpreted as a possible shrine-type structure, although in Northamptonshire there is also a local tradition of erecting circular domestic structures
with low stone walls, as seen at Bozeat and Stanwick, and the square arrangement of possible column bases is paralleled by large post-pads in the circular domestic structure at Bozeat (Meadows 1992). These structures were partially explored by Baker in the C19th century, but he made no reference to recovering finds such as might be anticipated at a shrine. However, this may reflect either a real absence of such material or simply the quality of excavation and reporting at that time, which was more concerned with the recovery of a plan.

Record last edited

Sep 12 2014 1:47PM