Monument record 8259 - Possible Iron Age to Early Middle Saxon Settlement South-East of Irchester Roman Town

{1} Very little of the pre-Roman landscape can be identified with certainty from the geophysical survey, but the characteristic shape of middle to late Iron Age enclosed farmsteads is the exception. Within the area of the geophysical survey two examples may be present, one underlying the later Roman town (Fig 10, E1) and a second some 500-600m to the east (Fig 10, E5). Both comprise the characteristic sub-square enclosure within which it is possible to identify elements of circular structures (roundhouses) and animal pens. About 500m to the west of the walled area, the partial remains of a similar farm was recorded during archaeological recording in advance of
development of the Victoria Park Distribution Centre, and a fourth example another 500m west from that (Fig 10, E6 & E7).
The regularity of spacing between farmsteads has been recognised previously in the valley floor at Wollaston, where a wide floodplain existed and the farmsteads were positioned at the limit of seasonal flooding (Ian Meadows pers comm). At Irchester, no such wide floodplain existed and therefore a position on the valley side would ensure freedom from flooding, whilst enabling access to exploit the floodplain as well as the other areas. With regard to the spacing between the farms, it would suggest that here, as at Wollaston, the individual holdings may have extended about 250m to either side of the farm, although it is not possible to identify how extensive each holding was from the river up onto the drier land. This spatial density of the Iron Age farms accords well with Caesar’s description of the pre-Roman landscape being densely studded with farms, and the degree of regularity seen locally might even suggest some degree of central control or planning. The linear arrangement of Iron Age farms along the valley side might be part of a more extensive rural community, which constituted a pre-Roman ‘settlement’ that preceded Irchester.

<1> Butler A.; Meadows I.; Fisher I., 2010, Archaeological Geophysical Survey at Chester Farm, Irchester, Northamptonshire, p.13 Fig.10 (checked) (Report). SNN107215.

Record last edited

Dec 11 2014 11:02AM