Monument record 726/40 - Probable Romano-British/Saxon settlement, west of Watling Street

Geophysical survey identified a number of rectilinear enclosures extending along the western side of Watling Street to the north of Towcester. Further possible archaeological features were identified further away from the Roman road, but these are on a different alignment and may date to a different period. Few of these features were identified by a subsequent trial trench excavation, although a substantial ditch and possible stone structure dating to the Saxon period were found.

{1} Geophysical survey of a field to the north of Towcester identified a series of rectilinear enclosures aligned along the western side of Watling Street. Within the enclosures a number of possible pit-like anomalies were detected as well as a possible burnt/fired feature. Further west were a further series of linear anomalies on a different alignment, suggesting thay they date to a different period.

{2, 3} Trial trench excavation found that a large number of the anomalies identified by the geophysical did not correspond with underlying features, although two ditches did suggest at least part of the suggested series of enclosures is present. The most significant remains were a large ditch, a possible wall and a spread of possible demolition material. Large quantities of animal bone and pottery, including Early Saxon pottery with examples of stamped decoration, while a small fragment of gold and a bone needle were recovered from the surface of the wall. Due to the limited exposure of this feature it is also possible it comprises a dump of building stone in the ditch rather than a wall.

Cotswold Archaeology, 2023, Images and GIS Data from an Archaeological Evaluation at Woolgrowers Field, Towcester January 2021, https://doi.org/10.5284/1103163 (Digital archive). SNN114785.

<1> Rigby, W, 2021, Geophysical survey report: Woolgrowers Field, Towcester, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN112311.

<2> Cotswold Archaeology, 2021, Woolgrowers Field, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation, Interim Summary (Interim Report). SNN112497.

<3> Hardcastle, B, 2021, Woolgrowers Field, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Archaeological evaluation (Report). SNN114088.

Record last edited

Feb 20 2025 4:12PM