Monument record 1282 - Possible prehistoric settlement and field system and medieval/post-medieval field system, east of Collyweston

The cropmarks of possible later prehistoric settlement and field system and slight earthworks of a subsequent embanked field system of medieval/post medieval date mapped from aerial photographs and lidar images as part of the Rutland Roman Villa project. [see also individual records] Summary from record 5935: Cropmarks of possible prehistoric boundary ditches and pit alignments identified on aerial photographs.

{1} TF 001024. Crop marks of ditches and pit alignments. [Information from J K St Joseph]

{2} Pit Alignments and ditches (around TF 000023 and 001028) lies south east of the village on flat ground at 300ft above OD on sandy limestone. Air photographs show the junction of two lengths of pit alignments as well as other linear ditches. A linear crop-mark, visible on air photographs running north - south is a pipeline trench. The site is of some interest in showing pit alignments on relatively high land in contrast to their usual setting in river valleys.
Ring ditch (TF 00120272) east of the main north - south pit alignment. Diameter 15m.
Ring ditch (TF 00150268) diameter 10m.
Ring ditch (TF 00170271) diameter 12m.
Ring ditch (TF 00340275) diameter 12m. A short length of ditch cuts across it.

{4} Some of the pit alignments and linear ditches described by the previous authority were mapped as part of NMP Northamptonshire. Although this NMP project did not map all the features described (and depicted in source 2) it did map other linear ditches features further to the north. Additional pit alignments were also identified on HE Reconnaissance aerial photographs taken on 2nd June 2009. In particular additional pit alignments centre at TF 0021 0205 and TF 0022 0193.(4)

{5-10} The cropmark remains of a fragmented extensive ditch and pit-defined field system (centred at SK 0035 0234) and possible associated settlement (centred at SK 0019 0199) of later prehistoric or Roman date (described above by previous authorities) have been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the Rutland Roman Villa project. The site is overlain by the slight earthwork remains of an embanked field system thought to be medieval/post medieval in date. There appears to be some continuity between some of the ditched boundaries of the earlier system and the banks of the later field boundaries.

<1> Brown A.E., 1970, A Gazetteer of Prehistoric and Roman Sites and Finds in The Welland Valley, Northamptonshire, p. 56 (Article). SNN38939.

<2a> Aerial Photograph, CUAP, AFZ 76, BCD 84 (Photographs). SNN112974.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 29-30 & Fig 30 (Series). SNN77379.

<3> RCHME, RCHME: Collyweston, Series of Cropmarks of Ring Ditches, Northamptonshire (Archive). SNN116759.

<4> Oblique Aerial Photograph, HE AP: 26314_029-045 02-JUN-2009 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

<5> Oblique Aerial Photograph, HE AP: 26314_036 02-JUN-2009 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

<6> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, RAF/58/1150 0059 26-JUN-1953 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<7> Oblique Aerial Photograph, HE AP: 26314_040 02-JUN-2009 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

<8> Vertical Aerial Photograph, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 14-MAY-2019 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<9> Oblique Aerial Photograph, HEA 26314_036 02-JUN-2009 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

<10> Environment Agency, LIDAR Composite DTM - 1m, LIDAR Environent Agency DTM 2020 (Digital Plots). SNN111710.

<11> Small, F, 2023, Aerial Investigation And Mapping at Rutland Roman Villa Environs (Report). SNN116764.

Record last edited

Apr 23 2025 5:53PM