Monument record 1346 - Romano-British settlement, Middle Sands

Archaeological evaluation, geophysical survey and subsequent development observation was undertaken in connection with the widening of the A45. A Roman settlement comprising at least seven stone buildings closely grouped together and set within fields boundaed by ditches. The common alignment of some of the buildings could denote the presence of a contemporary road.

{1} Trial trench excavation covered an area of Roman settlement and adjacent field systems. The remains of four stone buildings were found in three trenches including walls of two possible circular buildings. Rubble spreads, a path as well as a number of ditches, forming associated enclosures, and pits and a human burial were also found. A magnetometer survey by the Clark Consultancy indicated a series of enclosures which may predate the buildings, since one enclosure ditch would underlie the probable circular building. Magnetometer scanning over the rest of the field showed little sign that the activity extended much along the road on either side of the of the survey area.

{3} A concentration of Roman pottery, together with limestone scatters, was identified in the area of enclosures found by magnetometer survey. It is uncertain if this lacuna denotes the actual former pattern or if the area to the south of the presesnt A605 contains significant amounts of hillwash derived from the valley side. The pottery comprises middle and late pieces, perhaps implying a second century foundation. The centre of the concentration appears to overlie the enclosures where dense patches of stone could denote former buildings.

{4} Limited archaeological investigation was undertaken during the widening of the A45 comprising the excavation of a roadside ditch for a length of 200m. The limited information gathered from this narrow trench was supplemented by further geophysical survey, which identified possible kilns/hearths as well as buildings and wall lines. Subsequently, observation during the removal of the topsoil along the road led to the identification of the plan of stone buildings and metalled surfaces. Three further rectangular stone buildings were identified. They shared a common north-west to south-east alignment, together with other walled boundaries. A metalled surface between two of the buildings may be a road or shared yard. Ditches, pits and postholes show that Roman activity was spread over a distance of 260m.


{1} The absence of significant stratification, with only localised intercutting of features, precludes detailed phasing; the more so because many features were aceramic or lacked diagnostic pottery. There is nevertheless a slight emphasis of late first to early second century features at the southern end of the site, while the features closer to the stone buildings contained pottery of the third and fourth centuries AD.

Description from record 1346/0/9:
{1} High resistance anomalies possibly denoting the remains of wall foundations and rubble spreads, that have been partly masked by the effects of the corrugated plough surface as represented by closely set linear bands. A substantial structure may underlie the main rubble spread.

Description from record 1346/0/3:
{1}Geophysical survey undertaken by the Clark Consultancy prior to 1989; additional enclosures were revealed with widths between 10-20m; also walls, pits and possible hearths and furnaces; the possible presence of industrial activity was suggested

{2} The results of magnetometry indicate a series of enclosures. Their orientation suggests that they extend back from the probable road line. The enclosures may predate the buildings revealed in the trial trenching. The lack of any indication for other walls suggests that any remains are slight.

{3} A series of linear anomalies may represent ditches or gullies but any pattern is confused by land drains which criss-cross the area, and by east-west furrows associated with the pre-enclosure field system. Weaker small anomalies could indicate pits.

HER note 01/10/2014: the anomlies identified by the two geophysical surveys do not correspond with each other

Description from record 1346/0/8:
{1} Various pits and one or two hearths or kilns are indicated in the survey.

{2} Two substantial, isolated, high thermo-remnant magnetic anomalies may denote hearths, kilns or ovens.

Description from record 1346/0/10:
{3} Some earth-cut features have been identified adjacent to the buildings exposed in Trench 4 which could represent the continuation of robbed-out foundations, though the presence of underlying boundary ditches prevents a firm attribution without further excavation.

High resistance anomalies possibly denoting the remains of wall foundations and rubble spreads, that have been partly masked by the effects of the corrugated plough surface as represented by closely set linear bands. A linear anomaly, 11m long, may denote the continuation of the north wall of the building seen in trial trenching.

A building 6.5m wide, built of pitched limestone, with individual pieces measuring up to 250mm x 200mm x 50mm. The eastern wall was 1m wide in contrast to the other sides which were only 700mm. Two gullies in the trench, 680mm and 1m wide respectively, are in line with the foundations and could denote robber trenches. The continuation has possibly been traced by magnetometer survey for a distance of at least 13m. If so, the building had a total length of 21m. Remains of the north-east side may have also been identified by resistivity survey.Two sherds of pottery from one of the gullies are first century AD, but are probably residual.

Description from record 1346/0/11:
{3} Some earth-cut features have been identified adjacent to the buildings exposed in Trench 4 which could represent the continuation of robbed-out foundations, though the presence of underlying boundary ditches prevents a firm attribution without further excavation.

High resistance anomalies possibly denoting the remains of wall foundations and rubble spreads, that have been partly masked by the effects of the corrugated plough surface as represented by closely set linear bands.

A building comprising a simple rectangle, 5m wide, with a further wall extending at a right-angle from the eastern side. A separate parallel foundation 3.5m to the south could, if contemporary, suggest a more complex ground plan, or
may merely denote an adjacent boundary. A continuation of the robbed out remains of the structure may have been traced by magnetometer survey, perhaps indicating that the room had a total length of 14m. The foundations of the main structure were 700mm wide, with the wall to the south 1.1m broad. The individual foundations consisted of roughly dressed limestone blocks around a rubble core. Within Trench 4 only the southern foundation of the rectangular structure was present, but the continuation of other walls may be marked by possible robber trenches. Another wall foundation 5m to the north could form a related boundary but its continuation was not traced during the watching brief. A single sherd of pottery from one robber trench and thirty-two other pieces from the other suggest a late third to fourth century AD date for their backfilling. Cleaning over one wall produced seven sherds of late third to fourth century AD pottery.

Description from record 1346/0/12:
{3} A broad area of fragmentary limestone and pebble metalling, up to 19.4m wide, may be the vestiges of a trackway or yard surface. The insertion of a pitched limestone track divided the remains into two unequal parts. To the north the metalling mostly comprised laid limestone with occasional pebbles but there was a greater proportion of pebbles to the south. While it is uncertain if both sides were contemporary, their outer edges, albeit irregular, share a common alignment with the buildings. The smooth surfaces of individual limestone pieces suggest vehicular traffic wear.

The later track was composed of tightly pitched limestones bordered by vertically set edging stones to form kerbs, 4.60m apart. Small patches of gravel and pebbles between the stones may originally have been more extensive, thereby forming a smooth surface which was largely removed by later ploughing. The alignment of the track diverges by 25° from the earlier surface so that it is oriented east-west. The track was traced for a distance of 10m within the subsequent road-corridor.

Six sherds recovered from the metalled surface south of the track have a broad first to fourth century AD date-range. The track itself contained six sherds from the first to third centuries AD but it is possible that they are all residual, with the track being a post- medieval creation perhaps linking Stanwick Mill to a precursor of the present A45 road.

Description from record 1346/0/13:
{3} The significance of a range of other features, including ditches, gullies, postholes and pits, cannot be easily interpreted because of the limited area of the excavation. The fills of the individual features were unexceptional. These features were not exposed within the main road corridor and their pattern cannot be easily reconciled with the geophysical survey results. Some contained Roman pottery but most were aceramic and therefore remain undated.
The ditches, pits and postholes show that Roman activity was spread over a distance of 260m.

Description from record 1346/0/6:
{1} At the southern end of trench 5 corners of walls were exposed with a doorway in one. No associated floors were found. At the northern end of the trench a large rubble spread partly sealed a conbrash floor. A wall within the rubble survived for a height of 0.25m above the floor.

{2} A possible wall indicated by the geophysical survey is probably the wall and associated destruction rubble seen in trench 5.

{3} The foundations of four possible stone buildings, including two which might have been roundhouses.

{6} High resistance anomalies possibly denoting the remains of wall foundations and rubble spreads, that have been partly masked by the effects of the corrugated plough surface as represented by closely set linear bands. A wall to the south could denote the returning wall of an enclosure noted in the watching brief.

A building 5.5m wide and at least 4m long. Its foundations were 700mm wide and built of pitched limestone, with individual pieces measuring up to 250mm x 200mm x 50mm. A corner of two walls in the centre of the trench could form
an extension or might be part of a separate structure.

The watching brief within the road-corridor identified the foundations of other walls to the north and east, and possibly also at the south. If contemporary, they would have defined an enclosure 29m long and perhaps 16m wide. The eastern side was formed by foundations 1.5m wide but the other walls were less than half as wide. The foundation along the northern side replaced an earlier boundary ditch which was 1m wide and 700mm deep. The steining of a well was exposed in the side of the road drainage ditch within the possible enclosure.

Description from record 1346/0/16:
{1} Pre-dating the [Romano-British] stone buildings was a length of curving ditch, partly underlying one of the building walls.

Description from record 1346/0/15:
{1} Two gullies cut into a destruction spread appear to post date the [Romano-British] buildings.

Description from record 1346/0/17:
{1} Trench 4 contained evidence of stone buildings. A wall, possibly of a circular building, pre-dates a series of gullies, pits and a ditch. At the north end of the trench an area of stonework could be interpreted either as a path or a ploughed out wall footing.

{2} The foundations of four possible stone buildings, including two which might have been roundhouses.

Description from record 1346/0/18:
{1} Trench 3 contained a length of curving wall, possibly for a circular building. Associated floors were not found although the building had ben cut down into the natural subsoil. A rubble/ masonry feature showed through the top of a destuction level but was not investigated further.

{2} The foundations of four possible stone buildings, including two which might have been roundhouses.

Description from record 2330/0/1:
{1} Ditches, gullies and pits in trench 3 may belong to paddocks or be the beginning of a field system associated with the buildings.

{2} A series of ditches was present.

Description from record 2330/0/2:
{1} Ditches in trench 1, orientated NW-SE, may belong to a field system.

Description from record 1346/0/19:
{1} Several ditches and gullies were seen in trench 6. 4 of the ditches, 2 of them recut, contained limestone blocks and Roman pottery and are seen as being associated with the buildings further north and east. An undated post hole was also seen. A human burial was located in the surviving upper fills of one of the ditches/ ditch-pit ocmplex.

Description from record 1346/0/20:
{1} From gully 12 several pieces of worked flint were recovered and this with gully 13 may represent a prehistoric element to the archaeology.

Description from record 1346/0/0:
{1} 6 Roman coins were found during the metal detecting survey:
Victorianus - AD268-270 SP9692 7107
Claudius II - post AD270 SP9694 7112
Constantine I - AD312-13 SP9686 7109
Crispus - AD323-24 SP9692 7108
?Constantine II - AD337-40 SP9688 7104
Valens - AD364-78 SP9688 7103

<1> Moore, J., 1989, Stanwick, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Assessment March 1989, p.2 (checked) (Report). SNN43486.

<2> Moore, J., 1989, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN104807.

<3> Parry S., 1993, Raunds Area Survey Report, p.37, 40-42 (checked) (Draft). SNN1175.

<4> Parry S., 1995, Archaeological Investigations Along The Line Of The A45 Between Higham Ferrers And Stanwick, Northamptonshire 1994-5, p.6-8 (checked) (Report). SNN72409.

<5> Webster, M., 1995, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49261.

<6> Horne, B (editor), 1996, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (26), 26/36 (unchecked) (Notes). SNN40064.

<7> Parry S. et al, 2006, Raunds Area Survey: An Archaeological Study of The Landscape of Raunds, Northamptonshire 1985-94, p. 154-156 (Book). SNN105780.

Record last edited

Oct 12 2022 11:11AM