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.

{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.

<1> FOARD G.R., 1979, Oral Report to SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN51241.

<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.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:57PM