Monument record 366 - Blackgrounds, Possible Romano-British Town

Roman bath house, villa [HER 366/2]and cropmarks; Iron Age and Saxon coins also reported. Archaeological surveys to the north-east of the villa site have found evidence of Romano-British settlement extending to the east and north-east of the villa site. Geophysical survey found evidence of complex archaeological remains in the field immediately to the east of Blackgrounds Farm, including large rectilinear enclosures. In the field to the north, apparently outside the core of the settlement, there were multiple annular enclosures, possibly Iron Age or even Bronze Age in date. Fieldwalking survey confirmed that the core of the settlement lay in the field immediately to the east of Blackgrounds Farm.

{2} The suggested name for this site of "Brinavis" could simply be a name taken from a possibly forged Roman itinerary

{3} At Chipping Warden there exist considerable traces of Roman buildings half a mile E of the village. Only one building has been actually excavated - a detached bath house 36' by 18' found in 1848 close to the water in a field known as "Caldwiths". Remains of walls have also been noticed in the adjoining fields to the N known as "Blackgrounds". Samian, Nene valley ware and other potsherds and small objects have been picked up and still abound, over a large area. An urn with human bones was found in 1826, and in 1849 four skeletons were found. Numerous Roman coins have been found ranging from Domitian but predominantly 250-390. The place has frequently been called the site of a Romano-British town and the name Brinavis has been ascribed to it. But the remains hitherto discovered do not justify us in supposing more than a villa, perhaps with extensive outbuildings. Saxon sceattas have also been found here, as well as three IA coins;

{5} Probably not taken forward for assessment as a Romano-British urban settlement.

{6} To the south-west extensive Roman remains also exist at Blackgrounds Farm which may be part of a small town. Fieldwork has indicated a possible villa within the complex, communications links, industrial activity and a cemetery. Roman coins were found by metal detector, east of Welsh Road, close to the projected line of the Roman road.

{7} The published site of this Ro building falls in a sloping pasture field called 'Ludwell". There are no surface indications of an excavation to be seen but, as described above, the two fields to the N are both called 'Black Grounds'. 'Caldwith' field is NE and here a stone lined well at SP512483 is probably Roman. Stone and Ro pottery is scattered in the plough in both fields about SP 5115 4830, and Mr P Boonham of Blackgrounds Cottage has seven unclassified bronze Roman coins from the area.

{8} Geophysical survey ahead of HS2 found evidence of complex archaeological remains particularly across the two southern fields surveyed. The larger enclosures were located in Field 2 around the centre of the potential settlement. There was a lower concentration of features to the north with the majority of the anomalies being formed of annular enclosures, possibly indicative of Iron Age or Bronze Age activity.

{9} Fieldwalking survey ahead of HS2 was conducted over three fields to the east and north-east of Blackgrounds Farm. A significant quantity of Romano-British pottery was heavily concentrated in the southernmost of the three fields [within the known area of the settlement]. A large quantity of grog-tempered and shelly wares may indicate that the Romano-British activity was preceded by a phase of Iron Age settlement. Romano-British building material, also concentrated in the southern field, may indicate the presence of a building, although this may have spread from the adjacent villa site.

{10} Map of site and plan of bathhouse;

{12} Headland Archaeology undertook excavation between December 2022 - June 2023. The excavations revealed evidence of Roman occupation and probable industrial activity, representing the outskirts or edge of the larger Blackgrounds settlement. Provisional dating of the artefactual assemblage recovered broadly dates activity in this area to the Roman period. Post-Roman land use is indicated through stone drains and land drains associated with agriculture and pastureland use. The Roman activity is characterised by four partial structures, a series of metalled surfaces, a network of water management ditches, a number of pits and a series of peat deposits. Also, previous works in this area led to speculations of a possible river crossing related to the potential Roman trackway. No evidence of such a crossing was discovered during the current works. The structures found within the excavation were broadly similar in their mode of construction although levels of preservation were varied. Structures recorded to the north and north-west of the area had a similar state of survival with only the structural foundations remaining. These could represent the stone footings for timber frames, which could have formed the superstructure of the building. Evidence of wooden posts or stakes and preserved timbers found internally of some structures, could suggest the possibility of supporting timber structures associated with these structural remains. The presence of large quantities of leather overlaps with the evidence for industrial and craft workshops and activity located in the north-west. This could suggest that leatherworking was a key industry at Blackgrounds. Iron and metal working was also represented through the artefactual assemblage. These finds point to a possible continuation of blacksmithing activity that can be seen in the north-west in a blacksmith workshop comprised of an oven/smith and working area. These objects may have been produced in the ‘industrial area’ or may represent a widespread use of metal across the town. A number of possible refuse pits were scattered across the site and may indicate evidence of waste disposal associated with industrial activity from the structures in the north-west corner. The valley area of Blackgrounds appeared to have a constant requirement for long term water management systems. Therefore, a network of drainage ditches were found on site. These water management systems suggest an effort to stabilise ground and control water for ease of access to buildings and structures to continue industrial and crafting activities.

<1> Ward, M.; Foard, G., 1981, Chipping Warden metal detector survey, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN106088.

<2> RIVET A.L.F., TOWN & COUNTRY IN ROMAN BRITAIN, 21 (unchecked) (Note). SNN47324.

<3a> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p. 526 (Book). SNN10113.

<3c> Beesley J., 1841, History of Banbury, p. 27 (Book). SNN280.

<3b> 1850, Journal of The British Archaeological Association (Vol.5), p. 83/168 (Journal). SNN10347.

<3> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.200 (checked) (Series). SNN100368.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP54NW1 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<6> Clements P., 2010, An Archaeological Watching Brief at Welsh Road, Chipping Warden, Northamptonshire 2010, p.1 (checked) (Report). SNN107217.

<7> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 21-APR-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<8> Smith, J, 2016, Geophysical Survey Report: CS034 Land at Wills Estate, Edgcote, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN112290.

<9> Cassels, A and Laverick, J, 2016, Fieldwalking Survey Report: CS034 Land at Wills Estate, Edgcote, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN112289.

<10> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/284/1,4 (Archive). SNN115.

<11> High Speed Two Ltd, MOLA Headland Infrastructure, 2023, Data from Trial Trenching at Blackgrounds Farm, Edgcote Viaduct and Edgcote Cutting, Northamptonshire, 2018-2022 (HS2 Phase One), https://doi.org/10.5284/1119752 (Digital archive). SNN116592.

<12> Robyn Tranter, 2024, Fieldwork Report for Construction Integrated Recording at C31072 Blackgrounds Farm Northamptonshire (Report). SNN116689.

Record last edited

Apr 1 2025 4:34PM