Monument record 1808/0/14 - Site of late Iron Age/Roman and medieval activity

A series of intercutting ditches were identified in a single trench during evaluation. A single Roman floor tile was found in the fill of one and 11th/12th century pottery in the fill of another. Further Iron Age and Roman features were identified during subequent excavation. Medieval back plot activity included a substantial well.

{1} An evaluation at Hill House, Denford demonstrated the survival of below-ground archaeology, although the exact extent and nature of the remains could not be ascertained. Six possible, intercutting ditches were exposed in Trench 2, although only two were dated; one contained a fragment of Roman floor tile and may be associated with the Roman activity known to exist to the north-east, the other contained a small amount of pottery dated to the 11th/12th centuries and may be a medieval boundary ditch extending back from Pegs Lane. No features were identified in either of the other two trenches.

{2} In the subsequent excavation there was a single pit dated to the late Iron Age. The Roman ditch identified during the evaluation was found to have a late Iron Age precursor indicating a long-lived boundary. Two Roman pits were truncated by medieval features; one may have been a cess pit.

During the medieval period a substantial well was built; it had a large construction pit and a further pit close by appeared to be filled with stone debris from its construction. It may have been associated with a plot fronting onto Pegs Lane.

<1> Kidd, B., 2015, Trial Trench Excavation on land at Hill House, Denford, Northamptonshire 2015 (Report). SNN110012.

<2> Kidd, B., 2016, Archaeological excavation on land at Hill House, Denford, Northamptonshire, January 2016 (Report). SNN110696.

<3> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), p. 39 (Journal). SNN111326.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 40 (Journal). SNN111362.

Record last edited

Apr 26 2019 10:54AM