Monument record 2657/1/3 - Circular Building, Possible Late Roman Workshop

{1} A circular building lying c.12.5m to the south of the first house may date from the C2nd or even later. The remains of the stone footings of its walls were incomplete and had only survived around parts of the north and south sides. It had a burnt clay floor which had been bonded. There were indications that a secondary floor of yellow plaster had replaced the burnt clay floor. Internally the building was around 8.25m in diameter. Its walls were between 0.75 and 1.2m thick. Two small hearths, each 0.45m across had been set into the earlier floor. There was also a third, larger hearth. The slight evidence of heat around its sides suggests that the structure was of a domestic or a light industrial kind which may have been used for heating a vat or cauldron from a fire on its south end. Also a possible associated gully 203mm deep. The workshop function is most likely, possibly with metalling of a secondary nature.

{2} Various outbuildings included a workshop with three furnaces, probably for ironworking.

<1> Smith D.J.; Hird L.; Dix B., 1988-9, The Roman Villa at Great Weldon, Northamptonshire, p.23-67 (checked) (Article). SNN40244.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.164/Site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

Record last edited

Apr 19 2022 12:36PM