Monument record 2094/1 - Romano-British Farmstead

Limited excavations took place in 1972 and uncovered evidence of a small Roman farmstead. A few worked flints and fragments of residual Iron Age pottery were found, but the first structural phase, dated to the late 1st to mid 3rd century, consisted of a circular timber structure or hut subsequently rebuilt, associated with ditches or gullies. Towards the end of the 3rd century the existing building complex was replaced by adjoining circular and rectangular structures with stone foundations and associated with a paved yard. Finds included 14 coins ranging from Augusta (10-13 BC) to Arcadius (AD 395-402), bronze brooches and numerous small iron and bronze objects. There are cropmarks of rectangular enclosures which may be associated with this site. Interpreted as a possible Roman villa site.

{1} Excavation of 1972 revealed a Romano-British farmstead. A circular timber building was later rebuilt. Associated ditches or gullies were also identified. Dated from the late C1st to the mid C3rd. At the end of the C3rd it was replaced by an adjoining complex of circular and rectangular structures with stone foundations, associated with a paved yard. Finds included Roman pottery, 14 coins from Augusta to Arcadius, bronze brooches and many small iron and bronze objects. SP804646.

{2} Other finds included worked bone, whetstones, a quern, a phallus and building material along with Iron Age pot sherds and prehistoric flints.

{3} R Hollowell found the above in 1966 while fieldwalking, he confirmed the site and said that the finds were in Northampton Museum other than the quern (RB) which is with I A Brown, Leicester University. The site is under oats.

{4, 5} SP 804646. Excavations in 1972 revealed the remains of a probable Roman farm complex, at least 100m by 30m, arranged around a stone cobbled yard. Three building phases were identified, the first two of wood and the last of stone. A circular building, 12.5m in diameter, probably lasted into the 4th century but its use is not known. Although extensive, the buildings were of inferior construction. Pottery of 1st to 4th century and other finds were recovered.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.398/Site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> Williams J.H., 1976, Excavations on a Roman Site at Overstone, Near Northampton, p.100-133 (checked) (Article). SNN74123.

<3> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 08-SEP-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<4> Wilson D.R., 1973, Roman Britain in 1972, p. 294 (Journal). SNN19515.

<5> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1973, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1972, p. 14 (Journal). SNN8956.

<6> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, p. 146/NH 92 (Monograph). SNN110345.

<7> Shaw M.; Williams J., 1971-1981, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Record Cards, R97 (Index). SNN133.

Record last edited

May 22 2023 9:44AM