Monument record 2455 - Site of probable Roman settlement

Earthworks of ditches and possible enclosures. Rectilinear enclosure originally considered to be medieval in date. Trial trench excavation indicated that it was actually Roman, probably mid 1st to 2nd century. Further associated features were also recorded. Roman pottery has been found in the northern part of the area.

{1} Earthworks of ditches and possible enclosures. NCCAP:SP9283/005-6.

{2} Enclosure and ditches on AP as soilmarks in 1982.

{3} Trial trench excavation was undertaken on the site of a proposed wind turbine. The southern arm of an enclosure ditch was found. The enclosure, identified as a cropmark,which had been previously interpreted as medieval, was, in fact, Roman in date. A complex of ditches and pits were also identified to the north of the enclosure ditch. Pottery predominantly dated to the mid 1st to 2nd century AD, although several sherds of transitional late Iron Age/early Roman pottery were also noted. Charred wheat grains and glume bases recovered from the fill of the enclosure ditch indicate crop processing was being undertaken nearby.

The Roman features cut the silt deposits of a former stream course. Although it appears to have largely silted up by the Roman period it still flowed in some form until at least the early 19th century, when it was diverted into an underground conduit.

{5} At SP 93008385, 61 sherds of Roman pottery dating to the late 1st-3rd century AD were found.

{7} Geophysical survey interpretation shows that the settlement is far more complex than suggested by the cropmarks.

<1> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<2> Foard G.; Richardson D., 1983, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1982 (Aerial Photography), p. 183 (Notes). SNN100412.

<3> Mordue, J., 2014, Bullymore's Lodge Farm, Grafton Road, Brigstock, Northamptonshire: Archaeological evaluation, p. 10 (Report). SNN110616.

<4> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), p. 32 (Journal). SNN111326.

<5> FOSTER P., 1988, Changes in the landscape: an archaeological study of the clay uplands in the Brigstock area of Northamptonshire, Field 40 (Dissertation). SNN71342.

<6> Cotswold Archaeology, 2022, Images and CAD Data from an Archaeological Evaluation at Bullymore's Lodge Farm, Grafton Road, Brigstock, Northamptonshire October 2014, https://doi.org/10.5284/1100085 (Digital archive). SNN114236.

<7> Dunbar, L, 2021, Old Head Farm, Brigstock, Northamptonshire: Trial Trenching Interim Report, Fig 3 (Report). SNN116243.

Record last edited

Feb 7 2025 2:29PM