Monument record 5764/0/9 - Probable prehistoric and Roman activity, south of Williams Barns

Cropmarks of a probable Iron Age or Roman settlement / farmstead enclosure and ring ditches located to the south of Williams Barns and visible on aerial photographs taken in 2013 by English Heritage as part of the Reconnaissance Recording Programme. Geophysical survey and trial trench excavation confirmed the presence of a probable farmstead immediately to the south of Williams Barns. The farmstead comprised two rectilinear enclosures both of which originated in the mid-late Iron Age. The smaller enclosure was abandoned, but the larger enclosure continued to be used and modified into the early Roman period. Internal divisions, pits and a possible roundhouse were identified within this enclosure. Further south were further isolated Iron Age features.

{1} Cropmarks of a probable Iron Age or Roman settlement / farmstead enclosure located at SP 6938 5035 to the south of Williams Barns and visible on aerial photographs taken in 2013 by English Heritage as part of the Reconnaissance Recording Programme. The site appears as an incomplete rectangular ditched enclosure c. 45m wide with an entrance in the eastern side, within which lies a sub-rectanguar enclosure c.15m across and a partial inner rectangular enclosure attached to this. The northern end and side of the the outer enclosure is obscured by the edge of the field or the adjacent modern development at Greens Barns. Immediatley to the south-east of this complex is a single large ring ditch, possibly the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow approximately 20m in diameter visible at SP 6939 5032 and cropmarks of a further single large ring ditch, possibly the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow approximately 15m in diameter visible at SP 6932 5024 on aerial photographs taken in 2013 by English Heritage as part of the Reconnaissance Recording Programme.

{2} Geophysical survey ahead of proposed development identified two enclosures of probable Iron Age or Roman date in the field south of Williams Barns. Both appear to be at least partially double-ditched and the lager, eastern, enclosure contains a small inner enclosure as well as a pit cluster and a curving gully which is likely to be a roundhouse. A very weak annular anomaly, c18m in diameter, lies in the south-west corner of the same field. The relative weakness of the response suggests it may be an earlier prehistoric ring ditch.
To the south there further small enclosures, one D-shaped and two intersecting oval enclosures. A boundary ditch may also belong to this phase of activity.

{3} Trial trench excavation in 2019 identified an isolated, small, sub-circular enclosure ditch and gully that dated to the Iron Age in the south. Further north was a probable farmstead which originated in the mid-late Iron Age and remodelled in the early Roman period. The farmstead comprised two moderately sized ditched enclosures, the smaller square enclosure dated to the mid to late Iron Age period and had at least three phases of construction after which it was abandoned. The internal space was not investigated due to the presence of underground services.

The larger of the two enclosures displayed internal subdivisions including pits, a posthole and possibly part of a ring gully associated with a roundhouse. The main enclosure ditch was a similar date to the square enclosure but continued to be used and modified into the Roman period. During the 1st century AD significant activity was taking place within the immediate area of the enclosure ditch with large quantities of pottery being deposited in the upper fills. Smaller ditches continued to be constructed up until the 2nd century AD.

<1> Oblique Aerial Photograph, 27805_039 15-JUL-2013 and 27805_040 15-JUL-2013 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

<2> Walford, J, 2019, Archaeological geophysical survey at Tiffield Park, Towcester, Northamptonshire, p. 3 (Report). SNN111538.

<3> Elston, J, 2019, Archaeological trial trench evaluation at Tiffield Park, Towcester, Northamptonshire, September 2019 (Report). SNN112234.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2020, South Midlands Archaeology (50), p. 88 (Journal). SNN112426.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 6:58PM