Monument record 3770 - Site of Roman settlement and industrial activity, west of Grange Farm

Archaeological evaluation identified Roman settlement which included an assemblage of high quality pottery and glass from a ditch indicating high status occupation in the vicinity. Subsequent excavation identified a series of industrial features that appear to have been related to brewing with features including water tanks and drying ovens. However, no evidence of any high-status buildings was found.

{2} Although few features, principally ditches, were recorded during the trial trench excavation, the finds assemblage suggests occupation. The large quantity of pottery found in one of the ditches is largely fine wares and kitchen wares. The large proportion of fine wares suggests that this material derives from higher status occupation. This together with a large quantity of stone found in a layer may imply that there was a significant building in the vicinity. The dating of a further layer remains uncertain, but could also be related to a structure.

Kiln bar fragments and fired clay artefacts may have formed part of kiln structures.

This area of occupation may be related to HER no 9691 to the east.

{4} Archaeological excavation further defined the area of Roman activity. It was bisected by a large Roman ditch. Immediately to the north was evidence of a stone structure with a cobbled surface. A T-shaped corn drier was located within the area, along with a large stone-and-clay-built tank. To the south of the ditch there was a stone-lined rectangular pit that appeared to be connected to another ditch. Also in this southern area was at least one oven, a stone-lined tank and a working surface. Both of these industrial areas appear to have been related to brewing, with a system of water management for the initial steeping of grain, with the malting floors and ovens used for subsequent processes.

A series of Roman enclosures continued beyond the excavation to the west. A surfaced road was identified and several stone spreads may possibly be related to Roman structures located just out of the area; a theory supported by the large quantity of high status pottery found during the evaluation.

{6} Further trial trench excavation identified features likely to be associated with the western fringe of the beer brewing site and included a metalled/stone surface and ditches. The surface is probably a continuation of the road previously seen in previous excavation and the ditches are likely to be part of a wider network of enclosures.

{7} Reissued version of {4} including additional excavations for the central open space in 2022. The small excavation area identified continuations of Roman enclosures and a well.

<1> Butler A., 2010, Archaeological geophysical survey on land east of Kettering, Northamptonshire, p. 7 (Report). SNN107967.

<2> Gilmour, N., 2012, Land east of Kettering, Phase A: Archaeological evaluation, 2012, p. 54 (Report). SNN110464.

<3> Horne B. (Editor), 2013, South Midlands Archaeology (43), p. 46 (Journal). SNN111431.

<4> Gilmour, N, 2018, Iron Age and Roman Activity on land east of Kettering, the Balancing Pond site: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design, https://doi.org/10.5284/1120612 (Report). SNN112556.

<5> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 45 (Journal). SNN111362.

<6> Sinclair, K, 2022, Plots FOS3, COS and DC1, Hanwood Park, Kettering: Archaeological Evaluation Report, https://doi.org/10.5284/1110122 (Report). SNN114360.

<7> Gilmour, N, 2023, Iron Age and Roman Activity on land East of Kettering, the Balancing Pond site: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design (Updated January 2023) (Report). SNN114954.

Record last edited

Jul 23 2024 4:30PM