Monument record 1650 - Iron Age Settlement, near Stanwell Spring

A group of enclosures were identified on aerial photographs. In 1987, during the construction of the Wellingborough north-west bypass parts of the cropmark complex were excavated including the entrace to the oval-shaped eclosure, a small D-shaped enclosure and 37 pits, one of which contained a prone inhumation. A further enclosure was identified but not excavated. The settlement appears to have dated to the middle Iron Age period. Trial Trench evaluation in 2022 found evidence of pits, enclosures, ditches and post holes that would suggest a Middle Iron Age settlement.

{1} Cropmarks of four enclosures. NCCAP:SP8769/001-8. Other faint ditches visible on NCCAP SP8760/001. They are possibly significant, but not plotted.

{2} Air photographs show a group of enclosures. There is a circular double-ditched enclosure with an entrance to the E.; to the S. and N. of this are two subrectangular enclosures with entrances. The S. one is sub-divided; it is attached by a linear ditch to a circular feature on the E. There is one other small ovoid enclosure in the same field. N.W. of the main enclosure is a small, rectangular pit or sunken hut.

{3} Excavation of July 1987 by D. Jackson within the road corridor of the Wellingborough north-west bypass. Limited excavation was carried out both before and during the road development. The entrance to a roughly oval-shaped enclosure (previously revealed by aerial photography) was found, complex gateway and deeply-cut ditch. A second small enclosure, measuring only 10m x 7m internally, lay on the line of the roadworks and was excavated. The enclosure was D-shaped and its deep ditch had been recut on a number of occasions. A possible third enclosure was sited adjacent to Stanwell Spring, but could not be excavated. Other features revealed in the road alignment included 37 pits, one of which contained a human burials lying face down near the top of the fill, as well as a lime kiln of uncertain date. The site appears to date to the middle Iron Age.

{8} Cropmark complex of at least five enclosures, including a circular double-ditched enclosure with an entrance at the east. Salvage recording during construction of the Wellingborough north-west bypass in 1987 uncovered a complex gateway and a deep ditch dating to the Middle Iron Age period. A number of pits, one of which contained a possible Iron Age inhumation, and a possible Roman lime kiln were also discovered.

{14} (SP 870694) Crop marks. Enclosures.

{15} Indicated site under plough; no finds made during perambulation and no surface indication of antiquity.

{16} SP 870694 At least four well defined enclosures, date unknown but "probably Roman or earlier", underlie later ridge and furrow. Field walking produced some medieval and two possibly Roman sherds.

{18} Middle Iron Age activity was identified principally within Trenches 152 and 157. Pit 4807 in Trench 152 produced eleven sherds of Middle Iron Age pottery and animal bone. Adjacent to the pit was a regularly spaced group of three postholes (4820, 4822 and 4824), one of which produced a further Middle Iron Age pottery sherd. An additional posthole (4826) was present nearby. In Trench 157, evaluation targeted the corner of a probable sub-rectangular enclosure identified by geophysical survey. Ditch 4828 produced four sherds of Middle Iron Age pottery and is interpreted as part of this enclosure system. The features indicate settlement activity associated with the wider Iron Age enclosure complex identified in the southern part of the site.

<1> Foard G., 2000, Oral report to SMR, (12/11/1979) (Oral Report). SNN100433.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 167/Site 9 (Series). SNN77380.

<3> JACKSON D., 1988, SMR Report Form- Stanwell Spinney, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49678.

<4> Brown, A E (ed), 1971, Bulletin of the Northamptonshire Federation of Archaeological Societies, p.26-27 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN13960.

<5> Williams J.H., 1972, Northampton to Wellingborough Expressway: Archaeological Survey, Map 6 (unchecked) (Report). SNN59874.

<6> Council for British Archaeology, 1988, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (18), p.63 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN46846.

<7> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.125 (checked) (Article). SNN104441.

<8> Steadman S., 1992, A509 Isham And Great Harrowden Bypasses Archaeological Evaluation, Stage 1: Desk-top Survey, p.3 (checked) (Report). SNN101558.

<9> Gibson, A. (Ed.), 1989, Midlands Prehistory: Some Recent and Current Researches Into the Prehistory of Central England (Series). SNN106973.

<10> Musgrave E.C.; Tingle M. (editors), 1991, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1990, p.109 (checked) (Article). SNN100325.

<11> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP86NE32 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<12> 1987, Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit: Report for 1987, (checked) (Report). SNN55128.

<13> Hughes, B., 1987, Excavations at Stanwell Spinney (Photographs). SNN109393.

<14> Aerial Photograph, Air Photo flown by Dr J K St Joseph 17.8.69 (poss W&DAS) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<15> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F2 FDC 08-OCT-70 (Notes). SNN111540.

<16> RHK, 1974, Field Investigator's Comments, R1 RHK 21-JUL-74 (Notes). SNN114690.

<17> Aerial Photograph, A/P (CUAP AGE 3 5) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<18> oshua White, 2023, Glenvale Park, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report, Trench 152 and 157 (Report). SNN117200.

Record last edited

Aug 21 2026 2:27PM