Monument record 8923/1 - Probable Iron Age/Roman settlement, north of Chipping Warden

Geophysical survey undertaken as part of the HS2 enabling works identified an extensive area of probable Iron Age and/or Roman settlement spanning the A361. Trial trench excavation of a small part of the settlement investigated a rectilinear and a possible curvilinear enclosure. Excavations undertaken in 2020-21 as part of HS2 found extensive evidence for the site spanning from the Middle Iron Age to the 4th century.

{1} Geophysical survey indicated the presence of a network of ditches forming a series of conjoined rectangular enclosures to the east and a peripheral area of more irregular features, probably enclosures, to the west.

{2} Further geophysical survey to the south-east of the A361 identified further rectilinear anomalies representing a southern part of the settlement already identified to the north-west. There was a large main enclosure with internal features and probable annexes. Some of the internal features may be round house ring ditches.

{3} Archaeological trial trench excavation was undertaken as part of the A361 relief road works to the north-west of the existing road. Trenches 41 and 43 identified three sides of a small enclosure. Small quantities of animal bone, pottery and cbm were recovered from the ditch fills. A further ditch was identified to the east of the enclosure. To the south, in trench 34 a curvilinear ditch was identified.

{4} Archaeological excavation at Stone House and Chipping Warden Airfield revealed four phases of activity. The earliest being Neolithic of which a single pit was excavated. The second phase is noted to be Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age period as two sherds of Beaker period pottery were found in a gully. In addition to this, there were lithic finds from this period found in the Iron Age and Roman features. The activity in Phase 3 is deemed to be the Iron Age Period. In one area, a circular waste pit was found that contained a single sherd of Iron Age shelly ware. In the other area, a burial that contained the disarticulated remains of three juveniles had 90 sherds that belonged to a Middle Iron Age jar. The burial was located at the entrance to a rectangular-shaped enclosure. There were several pits found in this vicinity and may date to the early/Middle Iron Age period.

Evidence for more substantial settlement at the site is present in Phase 4. The series of ditches and gullies and pottery related to these features suggests a continuous use from Late Iron Age through to the Roman period. These features are likely to have functioned as enclosures dividing land use and for stock management. Two roundhouses and one rectangular structure were identified, providing evidence of domestic structure. Two Roman trackways with adjacent drainage gullies were found, indicating that the site was connected to the surrounding Romano-British landscape. Five inhumations were identified and dated to the Roman period. A futher burial, in a crouched position, was identified in another area and may date from the Iron Age to the Roman period. Phase 5 consists of Medieval ridge and furrow.

<1> Walford, J, 2018, Geophysical Magnetometer Survey for the A361 Chipping Warden relief road, Chipping Warden, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN112284.

<2> Davies, R, 2020, AWHb Final Report for Geophysical Magnetometer Survey at (AC320/1) Chipping Warden, Chipping Warden Green Tunnel, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN112780.

<3> Finn, C and Sharrock, P, 2018, Interim Statement for Trial Trench Evaluation for the A361 Chipping Warden relief road, Chipping Warden (Report). SNN112283.

<4> J Small & T Meharg, 2023, Post Excavation Assessment Report for Archaeological Recording at Stone House and Chipping Warden (Report). SNN116658.

Record last edited

Jul 14 2025 3:19PM