Monument record 95/3/1 - Possible Iron Age/Romano-British bloomery site

A possible Iron Age or Romano-British bloomery site with patches of slag and black earth. More likely to be a Medieval bloomery site. At least six variously sized maculae and linear ditches of uncertain date and function are visible as dark soilmarks on aerial photographs. Located over a field immediately south of Bozeat Grange, the features extend over an area about 400 x 480 metres. The six subcircular maculae range in diameter from 12 to 33 metres. The linear feature is a ditch up to 9.5 metres wide and extends about 350 metres SW-NE, with further ditches in two smaller fields to the south. The linear ditches may be associated with medieval field boundaries or drainage, or possibly even a trackway.

{1} Industrial sites (?) all S of the village, on Boulder Clay. They consist of areas of either charcoal or iron slag similar to those of known Iron Age or Roman sites. Recent work, however, suggests that these may be Medieval.

{2} Fieldwalking recovered a slag patch and a black area

{4} A slag concentration and a burnt area were found in an area of quarry pit cropmarks close to Bozeat Wood. Possibly late Iron Age or Romano-British in date.

{6} Probably IA/RB.

{7} SP 90235633. A bloomery site marked by a dense concentration of slag and black earth at present under the plough. Surveyed at 1:2500.

{8-9} At least six variously sized maculae and linear ditches of uncertain date and function are visible as dark soilmarks on aerial photographs and were mapped as part of the Bedford Borough NMP project. Located over a field immediately south of Bozeat Grange and centred at SP 90239 56340, the features extend over an area about 400 x 480 metres. The six subcircular maculae range in diameter from 12 to 33 metres.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 4 site 13 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Hall D.N., 1966, Sites on the North Bedfordshire and South Northamptonshire border, p.3 (unchecked) (Article). SNN37934.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP95NW37 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> Richmond A.; Blinkhorn P., 2006, Archaeological Evaluation Trial Trenching: Nun Wood Proposed Wind Farm, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire & Milton Keynes, p.10 (part checked) (Report). SNN105848.

<5> Rowley, R.T. & Fowler, W.J. (Ed.), 1976, CBA Group 9 Newsletter, p. 28 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN14378.

<6> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 04-AUG-1970 (Notes). SNN111541.

<7> Stevens, P A, 1974, Field Investigator's Comments, F2 PAS 25-MAR-1974 (Notes). SNN113167.

<8> Bedford Borough Council HER, 1991, Georeferenced composite layer of vertical aerial photographs taken in 1991. Held by Bedford Borough Council HER (Archive). SNN111744.

<9> Bedford Borough Council HER, 1996, Georeferenced composite layer of vertical aerial photographs taken in 1996. Held by Bedford Borough Council HER (Archive). SNN111739.

Record last edited

Feb 13 2024 12:58PM