Monument record 6145 - Iron Age Defended Settlement & Possible Industrial Site, Draughton

The site of a small Iron Age defended settlement, comprising a single bank and ditch enclosing an area of about 100 feet internally. An excavation carried out in 1942 revealed the remains of 3 huts as well as Iron Age pottery and evidence of iron working. The site now lies on arable farmland and although no upstanding earthworks appear to survive its position is confirmed by aerial photographs.

{1} Finds of Iron Age pot sherds. Ironstone was also found, possibly for use in ironworking.

{2} Excavation undertaken in 1942. A single bank and ditch enclosed an area about 100 feet across internally. Hut A was a good deal larger than the other two huts, with an internal diameter of 34 feet. It was defined by a continuous roof-water gully 3 feet deep. The post holes in the gully were not arranged according to any recognisable plan. Hut B had an irregular gully enclosing an area 20 feet across. The post holes in the gully were not arranged according to any recognisable plan.Hut C had an evenly cut penannular gully 19 feet in diameter internally. The post holes in the gully were not arranged according to any recognisable plan. The north eastern quadrant of the enclosure was featureless apart from a few scattered post holes.
SMR note 07/09/2010: Incorrect ngr given in Frere, according to OS mapping of former 'tumulus' together with location of airfield remains.

{3} Iron Age settlement (SP 77787749), lies on the E. boundary of the parish, on Boulder Clay at 158 m. above OD. The site consisted of a circular area with a diam. Of about 30 m. and a ditch. Excavation before destruction by the building of a wartime airfield revealed three hut-sites in the interior. The largest, with a diam. Of 10 m., was defined by a continuous roof-water gully 0.9 m. deep from which an overflow gully led to the main external ditch. The two smaller huts, both about 6 m. in diam, were also surrounded by gullies, though these were not complete circles, and had short overflow gullies. Finds included pottery of early Iron Age type and a small amount of fine ware with curvilinear decoration similar to that from Hunsbury. A quantity of high-quality ironstone was thought to indicate that this was the settlement of a small group of iron-workers.

{5} Excavation of 1942 has revealed a circular Iron Age ditched-and-banked enclosure, south of Fox Hall Inn, by Orton Lodge. Under threat from aerodrome.

{6} Finds of Iron Age curvilinear pot sherds, early Iron Age pot sherds, an Iron Age "miners pick", loom weight, spindle whorl, iron fragments and a bronze belt fastener. The site is published as a 'tumulus' on First Edition OS maps.

{2, 8, 9} A small Iron Age defended settlement consisting of a single bank and ditch enclosing an area about 100 feet across internally. The site was excavated in 1942 revealing plans of three huts with surface drainage systems.
Finds included pottery of Iron-Age 'A' tradition but also some of the
finer Hunsbury type wares. A quantity of high grade ironstone (and an iron miner's pick of Hunsbury type (2)) led to the suggestion that this was an iron working settlement.
Published as 'Tumulus' at above map refernce on OS 1st Edn. One inch. (Siting in 1 is given as SP 776766, but this cannot be accepted as it not only falls outside the airfield (which was the reason for Grimes excavation) but also disagrees with his marked 6" and accompanying note 'I have marked the site near the SE corner of Northants 31 NW).

{10} The siting of authority 8 is now under plough and nothing of archaeological interest was seen. The finds are on display in Northampton Museum.

{11} The site is now partly under arable and partly under shelter belt plantation. Otherwise no change in condition. However, the position given is confirmed by wartime aerial photos which show the earthwork still surviving alongside a hanger in 1945.{12} It is still visible though perhaps flattened in 1947.{13} It appears perhaps as a cropmark as late as 1954 {14} but does not appear on any subsequent photos.

<1> 1993, SMR Report Form, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN48742.

<2> Frere S. (Ed.), 1958, Problems of The Iron Age in Southern Britain, (unchecked) (Book). SNN7173.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.75/Site 8 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77381.

<4> 1949, Journal of The Northamptonshire Natural History Society and Field Club, p.25-31 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN11390.

<5> 1941, Correspondence From Excavators, (checked) (Letter). SNN44415.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP77NE1 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<7> DIX B., 1990, Upper Faxton: Archaeology, (unchecked) (Report). SNN62938.

<8> Annotated Record Map, Corr 6" and letter (W F Grimes, 15.10.49) (Map). SNN112961.

<9> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 1" 1st Edn (Map). SNN112944.

<10> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 19-MAR-1969 (Note). SNN111452.

<11> Bowden, M, 2003, Field Investigators Comments, M. BOWDEN 19-FEB-2003 (Note). SNN114812.

<12> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, 106G/UK/636. 10 AUG 1945 F/20/541 SQDN 4194 and 4195 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<13> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, CPE/UK 13APR 1947 F20/MULTI 4.16,400:58 SQDN. 2449 and 2450 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<14> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, F22.82/RAF/995 26 AUG 1954 - 16:15z, 20, 16, 660 0047 and 0048 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<15> Historic England, Iron Age site, Draughton (Photographs) (Archive). SNN114816.

<16> Cunliffe, B and Rowley, T (ed), 1978, Lowland Iron Age Communities in Europe, p. 75 (Report). SNN115234.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:09PM