Monument record 4625 - Site of Iron Age-Roman farmstead, Norwood farm

Site of settlement extending over about 3 hectares, comprising trackway and interlinked enclosures with internal features.

{1} Rectilinear and circular enclosures associated with a linear ditch system

{3} Very faint cropmarks of ditches and a possible rectilinear enclosure, seen on aerial photos NCCAP:SP7061/002-7

{5} Geophysical survey identified a complex of anomalies covering approximately 3 hectares in the centre of the field which are clearly indicative of settlement activity. Central to the activity is a large trapezoidal enclosure located off the north side of a sinuous linear anomaly which meanders across the field on a broad north-west/south-east alignment. To the south are a series of much smaller rectangular enclosures.
To the north of the trapezoidal enclosure are several other irregularly shaped enclosures and numerous other discrete and linear anomalies indicative of archaeological features are also noted, although a geological cause for some of these anomalies cannot be dismissed due to the prevailing geology. A further possible complex of features was also identified some 150m to the north-east.

{6} Trial trench evaluation identified Iron Age and Romano-British activity within the site comprising
the remains of a farmstead, which includes a trackway, boundary ditch, internal dividing ditches, postholes and ring gullies indicating structures, drainage gullies, rubbish pits, and two cremations.
The excavated features fit with anomalies identified in the geophysical survey, and demonstrate that the remains of a well-preserved farmstead survive in this part of the site. The majority of the features in
the centre of the farmstead were dated to the Romano-British period, with those around the edges of the farmstead (drainage gullies and field systems) tending to lean towards an earlier (Iron Age) date. The settlement was therefore well established in its working landscape and long lived. The pottery indicates that the site was occupied from least the 1st century BC, possibly as early as the 4th century BC and continues through to the 3rd century AD.

{7} Cropmarks, rectangular enclosure ? (part), recorded on AP in 1978.

<1> Holmes M., 1992, Northampton, North-West Bypass: Archaeological Survey, Stage 1, p.4 (checked) (Report). SNN73443.

<2> Foard G.; Richardson D., 1983, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1982 (Aerial Photography), p182 Harpole (Checked) (Notes). SNN100412.

<3> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<4> Foard-Colby A., 2006, Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation on Land at Upton, Northampton (SLRR Phase), November 2006, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105829.

<5> Webb, A. & Harrison, S., 2015, Land at Norwood Farm, Northampton: Geophysical Survey, 2015 (Report). SNN111218.

<6> Jeffrey, E, 2023, Land at Norwood Farm, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation (Report). SNN111217.

<7> COWLEY D.E.; FOARD G.R., 1979, Aerial Archaeology in Northamptonshire, p. 96 (Article). SNN60721.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:41PM