Monument record 3141/1/13 - Section of Roman road, south of Irthlingborough Road

Archaeological investigation has identified a section of the Roman road from Irchester. A 176m length was excavated in 2017 (Area 3) and a further 217m in 2024 (Area 19). The road was defined by parallel side ditches in the earlier excavation but, to the north, the ditches were not continuous.

{8} Geophysical survey was undertaken on land south of Grange Farm (SP 915 678). The Roman road to Irchester passes centrally through the survey area on a heading slightly east of due south. Its line is indicated by three positive linear magnetic anomalies, two following closely-spaced parallel alignments and third, also parallel, approximately 7m to their east. These are likely to represent the drainage ditches flanking the edges of the road. Whilst there is no evidence of the road having been superimposed across any earlier archaeological features, it is clearly crossed by medieval or early post-medieval ridge and furrow, indicating that it has ceased to be a significant landscape feature by that time.

{2} Archaeological excavation of Flood Relief Area (FRA) 3 in 2017 identified a series of parallel ditches north-west to south-east identified as flanking ditches on either side of a road which crossed both excavation areas. The ditches extended for at least 176m and the road was c13m wide. There was evidence for recutting implying the ditches were maintained. This road was a continuation of a routeway extending north from Irchester Roman town.

{5} Archaeological excavation of Area 19 in 2024 (immediately to the north of FRA 3) identified the continuation of the road for another 217m. Although it had been well-defined in the geophysical survey, in the excavation the remains were not as clear. Instead of continuous paralle linear ditches defining the full length, the ditches alternated sides, particularly on the lower ground. The central portion of the routeway seems to have comprised a hollow sequentially filled by colluvial deposits. Two bands of gravel overlying the colluvium may have been imported in an attempt to consolidate the surface.

<1> Arkley, G. and Walford, J., 2018, Archaeological geophysical survey at Stanton Cross, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, October to November 2018 (Report). SNN111534.

<2> Preece, T, 2020, Archaeological excavation and analysis on land at Wellingborough East, Area 3, Northamptonshire, April to December 2017, p. 73 (Report). SNN112349.

<3> Crank, N. (Editor), 2020, South Midlands Archaeology (50), p. 89 (Journal). SNN112426.

<4> Wolframm-Murray, Y, 2021, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 2019, p. 467-8 (Note). SNN113025.

<5> Simmonds, C, 2026, Updated Project Design and Post-Excavation Assessment for archaeological trial trenching and mitigation at Area 19, Stanton Cross SUE, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, May to December 2024 (Report). SNN117210.

Record last edited

Sep 9 2026 3:43PM