Monument record 5717 - Romano-British Settlement at Rowlers Farm

Extensive Roman Settlement identified from Aerial, Geophysical, Field Survey and excavation dating from the 2nd to the 4th century.

{2} In outline the settlement is probably that of a large estate centre based on a villa, probably accompanied by temple and several agricultural buildings.

{7} Geophysical surveys undertaken between 1992 and 1994 revealed the presence of a rectangular hall-type Roman building housing the mosaic set within a more extensive system of ditched enclosures, trackways and linear boundaries with evidence of further associated or pre-villa settlement distributed over some 15 ha in total

{8} Scheduled Monument description:
The monument includes the remains of a Roman settlement situated on the parish boundary between Croughton and Newbottle. It lies at the head of a tributary valley just south of the watershed between the Great Ouse and the Thames/Cherwell. The remains, which are principally located on the west side of the valley, take the form of buried archaeological deposits identified by aerial and geophysical survey, fieldwalking and partial excavation. In the north eastern part of the monument a watercourse rises and runs south westwards through a modern culvert to the field boundary where it becomes an open channel; both the spring and the culvert are now buried. Extending up the side of the valley to the west of the culvert is a roughly rectangular area of concentrated settlement remains occupying about 5ha. Immediately to the west of the water channel, and aligned with it, is a large rectangular platform over 30m wide and 70m long, visible as a low earthwork. Buried features identified by geophysical survey include a series of ditches which outline superimposed trackways and enclosures representing successive phases of buildings and other structures. A series of large subrectangular enclosures, thought to represent a group of fields, is associated with a number of trackways; one of these, which runs northwards along the side of the hill slope, may be a droveway used for moving animals between the settlement and pastureland to the north. Running north eastwards from the western corner of the monument, on the north side of the present parish boundary, another trackway extends in the direction of the spring. From the point at which these two trackways meet a further trackway runs eastwards across the stream. Parts of the large enclosures and principal trackways are contemporary with a succession of smaller enclosures and trackways, principally aligned east-west across the contours, which are believed to include house sites, garden plots and paddocks. Many of these features are associated with concentrations of material, identified by geophysical survey, which indicate intensive domestic, agricultural or industrial use. The survival of below ground deposits was demonstrated during the laying of a pipeline in 1991; these are thought to include the remains of stone and timber buildings. Artefacts recovered in systematic fieldwalking and chance finds indicate a period of occupation in the 2nd-4th centuries with an increase in activity in the late 3rd-4th century. The area of nucleated settlement is bounded on the south by a group of small enclosures, also detected by geophysical survey, which lie along the south side of the present field boundary. About 40m to the south east of these are the buried remains of a rectangular building measuring about 30m by 8m and aligned approximately north-south. This building was first identified in 1991 when a mosaic floor was partly excavated. The mosaic lies near the centre of the building and features a circular panel containing a representation of the Greek hero Bellerophon slaying the monster Chimaera. Bellerophon is depicted mounted on a white horse, Pegasus, and with his right arm thrusts a spear into the mouth of the monster which has a lion's head, a goat's body and a dragon's tail. The circular panel is set in an octagon at the centre of two overlapping squares which are bordered by braided ornament; together they form an eight- pointed star which is set within a wider geometrical framework. The mosaic, which is constructed of tesserae cut from limestone and sandstone, has been dated to the later 4th century. During re-excavation and cleaning of the mosaic in 1993 archaeological evidence for the destruction of the building, characterised by a layer of burnt mortar, wood, tile and painted plaster overlying the floor, was found. Impressions of the stone walls and reed ceiling of the room were found on the plaster fragments. The building in which the mosaic lies is thought to be a villa of simple rectangular type including a range of rooms without a corridor. Fragments of box-flue tiles and other material indicate the presence of a hypocaust. Significant quantities of 2nd to 4th century pottery and tile have been recovered during systematic fieldwalking in the area of the villa, and to the south and west where stone scatters and traces of activity identified by geophysical survey are believed to include features associated with the villa such as building and garden remains. The course of a trackway has been identified running southwards from the villa through these features. On the east side of the watercourse are further features identified by geophysical and aerial survey including a trackway, enclosures, and linear boundaries running up the hill slope away from both the nucleus of the settlement and the area of the villa. These boundaries and enclosures are believed to be largely agricultural, representing animal enclosures and field boundaries. Further enclosures and linear features have also been identified in the north eastern part of the monument. Systematic fieldwalking in both of these areas has indicated a date range of the 2nd-4th centuries suggesting that these remains are contemporary with other parts of the settlement.

{9} SP55043553 Roman Settlement and associated Villa.
An extensive Roman settlement is situated on the parish boundary between Croughton and Newbottle. Archaeological features have been discovered by aerial and geophysical survey, fieldwalking and partial excavation. During the laying of a pipeline in 1991 artefacts were found dating to the C2nd-C4th. A large platform, possibly for a sequence of buildings was also identified as a slight earthwork and measured 30m wide by 70m long.
A major building 30m by 8m was located and partly excavated and proved to contain a C4th mosaic floor and wall plaster. Box Flue Tiles and other evidence indicated the presence of a hypocaust and suggest the existence of a Villa.

<1> Dawson M., 2003, Heritage Conservation and Management Plan: Roman Settlement, Croughton, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN103157.

<2> Dawson M., 2001, Archaeology Desk Based Assessment And Geophysical Survey; New Grain Store Site; Rowler Farm; Northam, p.8 (checked) (Report). SNN101604.

<3> Shaw M.; Masters P., 1994, Croughton Roman Settlement, Northamptonshire - Fieldwalking Project: Stage 1, (unchecked) (Report). SNN76746.

<4> Shaw M.; Masters P., 1995, Roman Settlement at Rowler Farm, Croughton, Northamptonshire: Stages 1 and 2 (Fieldwork and Desk-Based Study), (unchecked) (Report). SNN102679.

<5> Blore F., 1996, A Report on The Archaeological Evaluation Undertaken at Croughton Roman Settlement, (unchecked) (Report). SNN72807.

<6> Wilmott T., 2001, Croughton Roman Settlement, Northamptonshire: Unauthorised Excavation Works, Archaeological Evaluati, (unchecked) (Report). SNN101219.

<7> Payne, A., 2012, Croughton, Northamptonshire: Final report on geophysical surveys, October 1992, January 1993 and September 1994 (Report). SNN111421.

<8> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1986, DOE Scheduled Ancient Monuments: Northamptonshire (Parts 5-8) (Schedule). SNN104787.

<9> Scheduled Monument Notification (Note). SNN113001.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 6:21PM