Monument record 2162 - Iron Age/ Romano-British settlement, east of Grange Farm

Geophysical survey and trial trench excavation have identified a small 1st to 2nd century AD settlement. A double-ditched ring ditch remained undated but may be a Bronze Age round barrow. Summary from record 2162/0/2: Cf. 2162/1/1

{1} Geophysical survey was undertaken over an extensive area east of Kettering. One group of anomalies probably represents Iron Age/Roman settlement including a very substantial D-shaped enclosure, measuring 100m north to south by 60m, and several small ditches lie inside the enclosure. A group of extremely magnetic anomalies could be evidence of prehistoric iron smelting and working, as the site is situated directly upon the local ironstone and close to a water source.

A prominent positive circular anomaly, 30m in diameter. This is the possible Bronze Age round barrow previously identified as a cropmark . However, the geophysical survey results indicate the presence of both an eastern entrance to the main ditch and a fainter inner ring with an eastern entrance flanked by large pits. The plan form suggests that this feature is more likely to be an exceptionally large round house, 18m in diameter.

There are further linear ditches east-west between the round house and the D-shaped enclosure; north-south from the round house entrance, but fading out to the south. In addition, there is also a ditch running north-south from the southern side of the D-shaped enclosure. This suggests that the D-shaped enclosure and the large round house sit at the corners of an enclosure 130m wide and in excess of 150m long. Within this area there is a couple of smaller rectangular enclosures. In addition, a strong linear anomaly forms a linear ditch at least 200m long, which appears to cut across part of the western enclosure complex, but which may have a central entrance opening in line with the eastern entrance of the large roundhouse.

{3} Archaeological evaluation confirmed the results of the geophysical survey where the enclosures and pits appear to relate to a small 1st to second century AD Roman settlement.

<1> Butler A., 2010, Archaeological geophysical survey on land east of Kettering, Northamptonshire, p.10 (checked) (Report). SNN107967.

<2> Butler A., 2011, Archaeological Geophysical Survey on land East of Kettering, Northamptonshire 2010-2011 January 2011 (Report). SNN108239.

<3> Lewis, T, 2021, Hanwood Park, Land east of Kettering Phase 2, Archaeological Evaluation Report (Report). SNN112564.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2023, South Midlands Archaeology (53), P. 74 (Journal). SNN116414.

Record last edited

Jun 24 2024 3:25PM