Monument record 2718 - Romano-British Villa, west of Yarwell

A Roman villa partly excavated in 1953. Finds from the site have included pottery, tiles, plaster and a stone capital. Air photographs have revealed the villa to be of a considerable size.

{1} The discovery, in March 1952, of the base of a stone column, possibly Roman, in a field at Yarwell. In the following year the owner suspended ploughing to enable excavation work, suggesting that perhaps the column had been unearthed during ploughing.

Because the find location of the column found in 1952 was not known the area of most dense pottery and tile scatter was chosen for further excavation work. A large quantity of pottery, mostly coarse local Castor ware (and mainly cooking pots), with occasional finer decorated pieces of Samian or other glazed wares. Intermingled with it were brick and tile, on or just below the surface. The first find of any significance was a small piece of painted wall plaster; wall plaster subsequently appeared in quantity from one part of the site. Another interesting find was a Collyweston slate, complete with its fixing nail. This was found on top of a burnt layer which appeared to cover the whole building, thus suggesting that it was destroyed by fire, though only at a late date in the Roman period. The only coin found, a 10 denarius piece of Constantine The Great, dates to about AD 323-25. The most spectacular find was a small buff flagon of local origin, unglazed, but complete and only slightly chipped. It has been dated to the C3rd AD.

A Roman building was revealed, comprised of stone walls. One complete room was excavated, but a plan of the entire building was made to inform future possible excavation work.
E.E.D.M.Oates from Cambridge suggested methodology for more professional excavation, but lack of time on the site before winter ploughing meant that this advice was not taken.
Photo of excavation in progress.

{2} 1952 excavation finds included much coarse ware, including a complete flagon, and much colour coated ware, samian, tiles, painted wall plaster, a stone roof tile, and a coin of c.323-325 AD.

{3} Air photographs show a rectangular pattern of ditches in the field centred on a Roman building revealed by excavation. This was dug by Oundle School in 1953 but no report was published. Photographs taken during excavation, however, exist (copies in NMR), and from these it is clear that a building of considerable size, and divided into a number of rooms, was found only 20 cm. below the ground surface. No tessellated or tiled floors were uncovered but pottery of the 2nd and 3rd centuries and a fine capital (Plate 24) were discovered. No other details are known. From the field immediately to the W. a complete Roman pot and some Iron Age sherds have been found during quarrying.

{4} The finds included much coarse ware including a complete flagon, and much colour coated ware, Samian fragments, tiles, painted wall plaster, a stone roof tile with nail, and a coin of c.323-25 AD.

{5} Roman building (TL 066979) Further details of the excavation of this site, and a description of a capital have now been published.

{6} Part of a villa was excavated by Oundle School north-west of the crossroads at Yarwell. No tessellated or tiled floors were found.
Wyman Abbott confirms the published site, but knows of no excavation report.J.L.Barber was a former master at Oundle School. Neither the school secretary not the librarian have any information regarding the excavation. The indicated site is now under arable.

{7} This is a house of considerable size but very poorly appointed. It was assessed by Wyman Abbott as a 'foreman's house', however the latter had made errors in interpretation previously.

{8} Cropmark ditches NCCAP: TL0697/02+4-5.

{9} Three Northamptonshire pieces, including that from Yarwell, fall towards the upper end of the estimated height range, and these may have had a slightly different function. An internal position 'in antis' between major reception rooms in a public or large private building would be an appropriate position. If used externally. Such columns could have been raised on plinths to form a modest portico. Illustration Fig 2. Description of stone capital. Capital now lost though formerly in Oundle School.

{10} Mr Wyman Abbott confirms the published site; he knows of no excavation report and has nothing to add to his previous comments. J L Barber was a former master at Oundle. Neither the School Secretary nor the Librarian have any information regarding the excavation. Indicated site now arable.

<1> Jacques C.G.; Radcliffe D.J., 1954, The Laxtonian, p.56-57 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN109081.

<2> 1956, The Laxtonian, (unchecked) (Journal). SNN46590.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.114 Site 3 + Plate 24b (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<4> Brown A.E.; Hadman J.A., 1976, Some Forgotten Northamptonshire Excavations, p.178 (checked) (Article). SNN107522.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.195 Site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, TL09NE12 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<7> Barber J.L., 1953, Yarwell Villa, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN109082.

<8> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<9> Woodfield P., 1978, Roman Architectural Masonry From Northamptonshire, p.71+76-7 (checked) (Article). SNN101140.

<10> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 FDC 17-JUL-70 (Notes). SNN111540.

<11> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, A L F Rivet 16.6.54 (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<12> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, p. 149/Site NH124 (Monograph). SNN110345.

<13> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, G Wyman Abbott (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<14> Aerial Photograph, (CUAP ZF51) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<15> Historic England, Roman and Saxon excavation (photographs) (Archive). SNN115215.

<15> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire I (North-East), 890432 (Archive). SNN113295.

Record last edited

Feb 7 2025 2:32PM