Monument record 3910 - Late Iron Age & Romano-British Settlement, Weekley

Continuous settlement spanning a period of several centuries, possibly from some time in the C2nd BC to the Roman villa which was probably in use into the late Roman period. Summary from record 3910/0/7: A well preserved Roman lime kiln was detected by a gradiometer survey and subsequently excavated.

{2} Rescue ecavation ahead of proposed quarrying revealed evidence of continuous occupation from the later Iron Age into the Roman period in a series of ditched enclosures covering an area of at of least 2.5ha. The site was notable for a strongly defended enclosure constructed in the late Iron Age. A significant quantity of decorated La Tene pottery was found, most of it from ditches near to a round-house entrance in Area K (the small area at the west of the site). The quantity of pottery recovered suggests it may have been produced in the vicinity. Long distance trade was suggested by the presence of pottery made from clay from the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall.

Phase I. The earliest features pre-date the introduction of `belgic' pottery and, though not all contemporary, perhaps span no more than 100-200 years.
The features were mostly concentrated in Areas A and K, some 400m apart at either side of the excavated area, where they could have formed the nuclei of separate settlements. They appear to have been linked by a series of boundary or field ditches with a few other features scattered between.
Phase II. The period during the later Iron Age and early Roman is split into two separate phases ceramically. The earliest features are represented ceramically by the presence of slack-shouldered jars, mostly in a pounded shell fabric, which appear to have preceded the introduction of larger storage jars in an oxidised grogged ware. The latter were produced in kilns at the site which may have
come into use before the end of the period.
Phase Iia. Among the three major enclosures (A, B and E) which had been created by the beginning of this period, Enclosure E is probably the most significant. It was surrounded by a substantial bank and ditch earthwork, which although enclosing only a small area, was probably constructed for defence. Among other activities coarse ware pottery was being manufactured.
Enclosure B little dating evidence is available, the origin of Enclosure B may be attributed to the same phase as Enclosure A.
Phase Iib. Enclosure C was subsequently created between Enclosures B and E. Its ditch was of comparable size with that of Enclosure E and with its substantial gateway suggests that it too had been created for defence. The earthwork appears to date to the period of the Roman conquest, and whilst it may not have been used by the invading army, a nearby military presence is suggested by metalwork finds.
The ditch of Enclosure C averaged 3m in depth from the modern ground surface, the elaborate gateway at its entrance suggests that it had been constructed with defence in mind. The enclosure was rectangular and covered an area of 110m x 65m wide. The upper fills contained a late 1st century Colchester brooch and a military style harness clip.
Phase III: With little evidence of subsequent Roman activity in the excavated area, the latest features
date mostly to the first 150 years after the Roman Conquest. Enclosures C and E continued in use, but no new enclosures were laid out in the excavated area. The remains of 14 pottery kilns were widely distributed in Areas A-C and represent a small local industry which developed at this time. Some time after they had gone out of use, a Roman road was established across Areas A and B, where part of its metalling survived adjacent to a modern hedge.
A lime-kiln excavated in 1970 had been constructed in c AD 160 and may have served the nearby villa {5}. A single trial-trench dug in the villa area suggests that only its walls may survive.

The objective of total excavation of the settlement was not realised since the pace of quarrying lessened, before ceasing altogether in 1980. The main buildings of the villa had not been reached by that time and perhaps as much as half of the total occupied area remains under modern cultivation. Most of the excavated area has since been returned to agriculture.

{3} (SP 884818). Excavation in 1976 revealed an abnormal amount of curvilinear decorated pottery. A Roman stone lined well, up to 25ft deep, was exposed in a quarry face. No other Roman features were observed in the vicinity of the well.

{5} Settlement one mile north-east of the extensive Roman settlement at Kettering. The site probably began in the late Iron Age with a series of enclosures and occupation subsequently continued into the Roman period. Excavation of a lime kiln found during geophysical survey. Full report on the kiln, finds and scientific evidence including plans and sections. There is however no accurate locational data.
On present evidence it is not clear whether the kiln is an isolated example or one of a group of lime kilns. If on its own then it is possible that it produced lime for wall construction, plasterwork and flooring in the nearby villa and its outbuildings. However the evidence of at least three firings in Period 1 and two in Period 2 suggests that lime was being produced on a fairly large, possibly commercial, scale. In this the site may reflect a growing trend of the sceond century for villas to turn to different forms of exploitation following a reduction in the official demands made on them.

{7} Cropmarks of a D-shaped enclosure, rectangular enclosures and two parallel ditches; the ditches may relate to the nearby Roman road. (Aerial photos NCCAP:SP8881/023+24.)

{9} The site was said by the OS to be at SP88458174 but no finds have been made at that location in recent years.

{12} Preliminary excavations were carried out in 1970 as a result of threat from ironstone quarrying. Early reports of pavements of a Roman villa were subsequently wrongly located on OS maps, but the site has now been located. However it seems likely that only pitched stone foundations survive.

{15} SP 88488188. In 1970, in the area of the 18th century pavements, excavation by D.A Jackson ahead of quarrying revealed three ditched enclosures. Two were pre-Roman; the earliest enclosure ditch contained early 1st century BC pottery, while the upper ditch filling of the later enclosure contained early Roman, mid 1st century AD pottery and kiln debris. Enclosure B has a 6ft deep, re-cut ditch, enclosing an area approximately 210ft long X 120ft wide. The earliest date for this enclosure is unclear because of lack of dating evidence from its earliest phases. It was however succeeded by a fort-like enclosure dating to the middle years of the C1st AD (Enclosure C). No work was carried out on the interior of the enclosure in 1970. Enclosure C was a fort-like enclosure probably dating to the middle years of the C1st AD. It was roughly rectangular and covered an area c.2.25acres in extent. It had an entrance on the east side and was enclosed by a V-shaped ditch 10ft deep. No work was carried out on the interior of the enclosure in 1970.
A well preserved Roman lime kiln was detected by a gradiometer survey and subsequently excavated. Built of limestone and bedded in clay, it had a chamber 10ft in diameter and 5ft deep (from the modern surface of the bedrock). On the south side there was a flue 5ft long which stood to the same height as the kiln. It was not roofed over but narrowed from 21in wide at the bottom to 10in wide at the top. The kiln had an earlier phase when the stone chamber was 6ft 6in deep, with a pit 1ft deep dug into the natural clay at the bottom. In both phases a step 2ft high ran round the base of the chamber. A large working area occurred outside the flue to the south, this having first served as a stone and clay quarry for the kiln's construction. A provisional date about the end of the C1st AD is suggested, perhaps hinting at a similar date for the construction of the main 'villa'.

{21} (SP 884818). The excavation in 1970 (auth 8) revealed up to 14 sites. All the kilns were roughly circular with varying degrees of clay lining.

<1> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1972, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1971, p.8 (checked) (Journal). SNN59984.

<2> Jackson D.; Dix B., 1986-7, Late Iron Age and Roman Settlement at Weekley, Northants. (Article). SNN104539.

<3> 1977, CBA GROUP 9 NEWSLETTER, 7/9 (checked) (Interim Note). SNN58407.

<4> Wilson D.R., 1971, Roman Britain in 1970, p.266-7 (checked) (Journal). SNN58458.

<5> JACKSON D.A., 1974, A Roman Lime Kiln at Weekley, Northants, p.128-40 (checked) (Article). SNN71561.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP88SE27 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<7> Kettering Museum Records, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN28658.

<8> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1978, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1977, 13/180 (checked) (Journal). SNN2192.

<9> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.152-3 Site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<10> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.202/Site 2 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<11> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1976, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1975, 11/194 (Journal). SNN169.

<12> JACKSON D.A., 1977, Petrology of Iron Age Pottery From Weekley, 12/183-4+210 (unchecked) (Article). SNN29265.

<13> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1972, CBA Group 9 Newsletter: South Midlands Archaeology (2), p.8 (checked) (Newsletter). SNN10022.

<14> 1970, SITE RECORDS, (unchecked) (Archive). SNN55172.

<15> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1971, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1970, p.26 (checked) (Journal). SNN100525.

<16> JACKSON D., 1990, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Note). SNN53759.

<17> Rees G., 2008, Enclosure Boundaries and Settlement Individuality in The Iron Age, (unchecked) (Article). SNN106040.

<18> Wilson D.R., 1973, Roman Britain in 1972, p. 128-140 (Journal). SNN19515.

<19> HOLLOWELL R., 1971, Aerial Photography and Fieldwork in the Upper Nene Valley, p. 16 (Journal). SNN106546.

<20> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1979, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1978, p. 104 (Article). SNN45225.

<21> Swan, V G, 1984, The pottery kilns of Roman Britain, Gazetteer No. 542 (Book). SNN75255.

<22> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, p. 148/NH114 (Monograph). SNN110345.

Record last edited

Feb 7 2025 2:55PM