Monument record 937 - Possible Roman villa, Sharaoh Field

The site of a large Roman building in Sharaoh Field was excavated by the Rev HO Cavalier during 1927-29. Foundations of stone walls were uncovered together with the remains of a hearth; finds of samian ware and coarse pottery show occupation from the 2nd to 4th centuries. A hoard of 814 Roman coins (164-395 AD) discovered at this site in 1929, which had been buried in the building after it was in ruins, in the ownership of Earl Spencer. Possibly the site of a Roman villa.

{1} A large Roman building was excavated in 1927-9. Foundations of stone walls and remains of a hearth were found, as well as Samian and coarse Roman wares which show that the site was occupied from the 2nd to the 4th century. The site may be the one referred to by Bridges 'at a small distance from Newbottle Wood are marks of an ancient building with several ruinous walks leading to it'. A hoard of 814 Roman coins, dating from 164 to 395AD and which had been buried on the site after the building was in ruins, was found in 1927-9. A bronze coin of Magnentius and a scatter of building-stone were discovered in 1970 at SP682632.

{5} Historical context and discussion of the hoard; finds descriptions.

{10} Partial plan of buildings and possible enclosure wall. Mostly only foundations. 80 sq yds of structures.

{13} Copies of coins of Tetricus I and two Constantius II, found in 1989 at SP 6818 6337, seen NM April 1992.

{16} The majority of the anomalies identified by the geophysical survey appear to reflect a palimpsest of Romano-British activities, incorporating enclosures and possible in situ stone walls of at least two structures, one of which may indicate a villa. The survey results suggest that the earliest remains lie towards the southern end of the settlement complex. These may have originated in the late Iron/ early Roman period. The linear, curvilinear and rectilinear anomalies detected, for the most part probably represent the remains of a Romano-British farmstead with an associated stone building. Several phases of activity have been recorded.

{21} Fieldwalking survey undertaken by CLASP as part of the Local People: Local Past Project. There are 4,400 Romano-British pottery sherds, weighing about 27 kilos, equivalent to 1,357 sherds per hectare. There are 10,719 Roman ceramic tile fragments weighing 210 kilos representing the remains of roofs and floors. The main focal points for both the tile and pottery scatters coincided with a stone scatter of the main villa area.

{23} Now arable land; no visible remains.

{26} A trial trench excavation was undertaken in order to better understand the Roman villa. A number of stone foundations were identified, the differing styles of construction and orientation suggest that there was more than one phase of occupation. Pottery associated with the foundations dated to the 2nd to 4th centuries. The majority of the finds comprised tegula and imbrex roof tiles. Overlying the demolition deposits of the villa was a possible timber building with associated mortar floor that may date to the late 4th or early 5th centuries.

{27} A ground resistance survey and a ground penetrating radar survey were undertaken over two small areas. Area 1 was located around the earlier trial trench and showed further potential wall lines to the south and east of the trench. The second survey area was located to the south-east of the villa and targeted potential industrial anomalies recorded by a previous gradiometer survey. No archaeologically significant features were identified.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.99 site 10 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP66SE1 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> 1931, The Numismatic Chronicle (Series 1), 11/231 (unchecked) (Series). SNN12210.

<4> 1927, The Journal of Roman Studies, 17/202 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN28420.

<5> O'Neil, B. H. St. J., 1933, A Hoard of Late Roman Coins from Northamptonshire: Its Parallels and Significance, 90/282-305 (checked) (Article). SNN106444.

<6> Shiel, N, 1977, The Episode of Carausius and Allectus: the Literary and Numismatic Evidence, p. 63 (unchecked) (Series). SNN12192.

<7> 1931, JOURNAL OF THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SO, 26/ (unchecked) (Journal). SNN12195.

<8> Giggins B., 1986, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Note). SNN50441.

<9> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.248 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<10> 1933, Associated Architectural Societies Reports, p.299-308 (unchecked) (Series). SNN12190.

<11> 1989, EXCAVATIONS BY THE REV. CAVALIER, RECTOR OF GREAT BRINGTON 1927-1928, (unchecked) (Report). SNN57292.

<12> 1931, CORRESPONDENCE, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN55186.

<13> Curteis M., 1992, Archaeology in Northamptonshire: Notes From Northampton Museum, 24/114 (checked) (Chapter). SNN106204.

<14> CLASP, 2005-12, CLASP (Community Landscape and Archaeology Survey Project) Newsletter (Newsletter). SNN108402.

<15> 1930, The Numismatic Chronicle (Series 1), 10/275 (unchecked) (Series). SNN12194.

<16> Masters, P., 2007, Gradiometer Survey of Land to the North of Nobottle, Northamptonshire, 2007, p.4 (Report). SNN109006.

<17> Brown, A E (ed), 1971, Bulletin of the Northamptonshire Federation of Archaeological Societies, 5/44 (checked) (Journal). SNN13960.

<18> Sutherland, Coinage and Currency of Roman Britain, p.167 (unchecked) (Book). SNN12220.

<19> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.511 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<20> 1932, Northamptonshire Architectural and Archaeological Society Report, (unchecked) (Article). SNN57293.

<21> CLASP, Local People: Local Past, Harlestone 3 (Website). SNN112896.

<22> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, p. 144, NH 60 (Monograph). SNN110345.

<23> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 17-MAR-69 (Note). SNN111452.

<24> Historic England, Undated, 'Showing the Position of Sharaoh, to the East of Nobottle Wood' and 'Plan of the Foundations found at Sharaoh', AO2014 (Archive). SNN113533.

<25> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey: Portfolios, ORD01/01 (Archive). SNN113224.

<26> Thomas, S, 2022, Archaeological Evaluation: Nobottle Roman Villa, Northamptonshire, Interim Report for 2022 (Report). SNN114087.

<27> Thomas, S, 2023, Geophysical Survey: Nobottle Roman Villa, Northamptonshire, March 2023 (Report). SNN115062.

<28> Thomas, S, 2023, Archaeological excavation: Nobottle Roman Villa, Northamptonshire, Interim Report for 2023 (Report). SNN115626.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 3:02PM