Monument record 1354/2 - Middle Iron Age to Roman Settlement, west of Roman road

The western part of an extensive area of Iron Age and Roman occupation remains located either side of a Roman road [3141/1]. Some features visible as cropmarks, many more identified during geophysical survey in 2016. Further geophysical survey in 2018 of land immediately south of Irthlingborough Grange has extended the known area of settlement. Excavation of Flood Relief Area (FRA) 3 in 2017 identified a Neolithic pit group and limited evidence of middle-late Iron Age settlement. Subsequent excavation of Area 19, immediately to the north, revealed the dense area of occupation as identified by the geophysical survey. There were two main foci of settlement: an enclosure at the north-western corner of the site which contained a ring ditch and pit group and a larger group of southern enclosures to the south-west with little activity in between. A distinctive characteristic of the southern enclosures was the density of pits- at least 96 were recorded. There was continuity of settlement into the Roman period, not least with the construction of the road, which mainly comprised field systems either side of the road and a pit group of at least 60 pits. Part of a cast sword or blade mould of possible Bronze Age date was found in the fill of three of the pits.

{2} Geophysical survey of a large area to the south of Irthlingborough Grange identified a complex landscape of Iron Age and Roman occupation. There were several discrete areas of more dense activity including one to the west of the road at SP 914 677 (Group W1) comprising a set of intercutting enclosures and a group of possible pits and boundary ditches (Group W2) at the south-western extremity of the survey ares but across the remainder of the area there was evidence of field boundaries that probably dated to the same period.

{3} A small number of trial trenches were targeted on geophysical anomalies. Three threnches were located in the area to the west of the road. Ditches were observed in each trench, although Roman pottery was only found in one feature.

{5} Geophysical survey in 2018 to the south of Irthlingborough Grange identified a complex of archaeological features representing a continuation of the settlement investigated to the south. The densest area of archaeology comprises three groups of rectilinear enclosures, all similarly aligned. The enclosures in the southernmost group all have densely utilised interiors, while the central group, which has strikingly regular, straight-edged ditches is apparently much emptier. The northern group lay immediately south of Irthlingborough Grange.

{6} Archaeological excavation of Flood Relief Area (FRA) 3 was undertaken in 2017 prior to development. The earliest features in the western excavation area was a small group of pits, one of whch contained Neolithic pottery and which may be related to the causewayed enclosure located to the east.
The remnants of several Iron Age enclosures were identified on the northern edge of this phase of excavation, although the Stanton Cross geophysical survey clearly shows further enclosures continuing to the north. To the east of the enclosures was part of a field system.
In the southern part of the area, two large Roman enclosures were identified, although only small amounts of pottery were recovered indicating that they were probably part of a field system.

{9} The cropmarks of possible Iron Age enclosures can be seen on HE Reconnaissance aerial photographs taken on 2nd June 2009. This group of ditch defined enclosures are situated on the lower slopes of South Hill above the River Nene. They were mapped as part of Northamptonshire NMP.(1)

{10,11} The cropmarks described above (Source 1) were also mapped as part of the Bedford Borough NMP project. They are located south of Irthlingborough Grange (centred at SP 91464 67786) and comprise rectilinear enclosures and linear ditches of different periods, though the main features are likely to be Iron Age to Roman in date and a possible Iron Age pit alignment at SP 91398 68020.

{13} Archaeological excavation of Area 19 of the Wellingborough SUE was undertaken in 2024. The excavation was located immediately to the north of FRA 3 and revealed more of the Iron Age settlement which was partially investigated in 2017. Two distinct zones of settlement were identified on the higher ground, one to the north comprised a single, sub-rectangular enclosure containing at least one roundhouse ring ditch and pits, with an outfield areas to the west, south and east. The outfield area to the east had a watering hole. To the south was a pit group. The second settlement focus was a continuation of the features identified in FRA3 comprising a set of large sub-rectangular and sub-oval enclosures defined by substantial ditches. It was characterised by dense pitting- at least 96 pits were recorded. To the north was a D-shaped enclosure and an isolated roundhouse ring ditch.
From the 1st to 2nd centuries AD Roman activity developed respecting the routeway aligned north-south. Sub-rectangular field systems and remnants of a pottery kiln were identified. A group of c60 intercutting pits was notable since fragments of a possible Bronze Age sword mould were recovered suggesting earlier Bronze Age features had been disturbed by the excavation of the pits.

<1> Northamptonshire HER Collection of Aerial Photographs, SP 9167 & 9168 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<2> Walford, J, 2016, Archaeological geophysical survey of Area 3 of the Wellingborough East flood relief works Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire September 2016 (Report). SNN110834.

<3> Muldowney, L., 2017, Trial trench evaluation at Wellingborough East Area 3, Northamptonshire: Interim Report (Report). SNN111179.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2018, South Midlands Archaeology (48), p. 69 (Journal). SNN111393.

<5> Arkley, G. and Walford, J., 2018, Archaeological geophysical survey at Stanton Cross, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, October to November 2018 (Report). SNN111534.

<6> Preece, T, 2020, Archaeological excavation and analysis on land at Wellingborough East, Area 3, Northamptonshire, April to December 2017 (Report). SNN112349.

<7> Crank, N. (Editor), 2020, South Midlands Archaeology (50), p. 89 (Journal). SNN112426.

<8> Wolframm-Murray, Y, 2021, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 2019, p. 467-8 (Note). SNN113025.

<9> Historic England, Undated, 9 Silver Street, Wellingborough, 26290_001-016 2-JUN-2009 (Archive). SNN112940.

<10> Historic England, Undated, 9 Silver Street, Wellingborough, NHC 2477/5 07-JUL-1984 (Archive). SNN112940.

<11> Aerial Photograph, NMR 26290/2 02-JUN-2009 (Photographs). SNN112974.

<12> Bedford Borough Council HER, Undated, Bedford Borough NMP, MD003015 (Archive). SNN113023.

<13> Simmonds, C, 2026, Updated Project Design and Post-Excavation Assessment for archaeological trial trenching and mitigation at Area 19, Stanton Cross SUE, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, May to December 2024 (Report). SNN117210.

Record last edited

Sep 9 2026 3:43PM