Monument record 4894/0/13 - Roman settlement, west of the Brampton Nene

Geophysical survey and trial trench excavation identified a complex area of intercutting features including possible stone foundations and evidence of crop processing. Archaeological excavation was undertaken in 2022 ahead of road construction. In the early Roman period, there was a series of small enclosures and boundary ditches with later expansion eastwards into the floodplain. The latest phase comprised a linear arrangment of at least six small enclosures. An urned cremation was found in the fill of one of the enclosure ditches. A T-shaped crop drying oven was also found.

{2} Archaeological trial trench excavation was undertaken ahead of the Northampton Western Relief Road development. Trenches were excavated to test an area of confused geophysical anomalies. The trenches demonstrated the presence of numerous ditches, soil layers and possible structural remains. The deposits include evidence for crop processing and stratified sequences suggesting some longevity or phasing to these activities. Pottery from the features dated to the late Roman period.

{4} Archaeological excavation ahead of road construction (Area A). A sequence of small Roman enclosures probably associated with the larger settlement to the west. A corn drying kiln was found. A near complete cooking-pot had been placed upright in a ditch; a small amount of cremated human bone was found in it. In the centre of an ovel enclosure in the latest Roman phase was a pit that appears to have been lined with substantial timbers; large beamslots dentified in the base of the pit formed a near-square shaft measuring 2.6 x 2.2m and at least 0.50m deep. Three undated pits contained small quantities of burnt human bone and may be cremation burials or related features.

<1> Harrison, D, 2018, Northampton Western Relief Road, Northamptonshire: Geophysical Survey (Report). SNN112236.

<2> Lawrence, S and Fellingham, A, 2019, Northampton North-west Relief Road: Archaeological Evaluation Report (Report). SNN112235.

<3> Crank, N. (Editor), 2020, South Midlands Archaeology (50), p.91 (Journal). SNN112426.

<4> Simmonds, A, Teague, S, and Stafford, E, 2025, Northampton North-West Relief Road, Northamptonshire: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design, Area A (Report). SNN116982.

Record last edited

Jan 30 2026 12:20PM