Monument record 9415/0/1 - Late Iron Age and Roman occupation, land west of Nassington

Roman buildings, probably part of a larger farmstead, have been the subject of archaeological excavation over a number of seasons. Associated structures include corn dryers/malting ovens. Field-walking finds have been identified over a wide area. The cropmarks of rectilinear enclosures and parallel ditches, possibly representing trackways, were photographed in 1981 and the excavation indicates that at least some of these features date to the Iron Age. The cropmarks extend over a wide area to the east and west of the farmstead. Subsequent geophysical survey has identified further trackways and enclosures, as well as numerous features that may be pits or former ponds.

{1} Fieldwalking survey. Samian, Nene Valley colour-coated, grey wares, burnt stones and dark soil were found. Runs into several fields, total area possibly 2ha.

{2} A resisitivity survey was carried out in an area where significant amounts of Roman pottery, ceramic building material and a small number of Roman coins have been found. The survey identified the foundations of a building measuring 12.5m x 7.5m. There were no indications of surviving floors. To the south of the building was a ditch aligned north to south, although it was not certain whether the two were contemporary. The ditch is also visible as a cropmark.

{3} A magnetometry survey was carried out over an area of nearly 5ha, including the area of the building. A large number of anomalies of archaeological interest were identified demonstrating that the Roman building is not an isolated monument. There were parallel ditches, possibly flanking former trackways, along with linear features likely to represent former boundaries or enclosures. Numerous amorphous features may be pits or former ponds. A double linear boundary at the west end of the site broadly follows the existing boundary, possibly indicating considerable longevity.

{4} Excavation suggests a Roman farmstead probably comprising buildings arranged around a yard. The earliest phase of the farmstead was in around 120AD when the first buildings were erected; these had rubble foundations. These were replaced in the 3rd-4th century AD by buildings with pitched stone foundations. The farmstead appears to have been in use into the early 5th century AD. Associated features include a furnace/hearth, large pitting and at least two corn dryers/malting houses. The enclosure, within which the farmstead is situated, seems to overlie, on a different orientation, an Iron Age field system and trackway.

{7} A magnetometry survey was undertaken in close proximity to the 2017 survey. In the northern field, the survey found evidence of a large enclosure feature has been revealed in the northern field (the western edge of the enclosure is present in the 2017 survey) along with parallel linear features possibly representing ditches either side of a former trackway, along the southern edge of the enclosure. Within the probable enclosure ditch, there are positive linear and amorphous features which may represent the remains of former structures, suggesting this may be a settlement enclosure as opposed to agricultural. There are also positive features which may represent former pits within this area, and other linear features cutting across the enclosure, suggesting multi phase activity. The southern field, which had less activity, comprised of two small clusters of possile pits, one potentially within a small enclosure.

<1> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, Nassington/Site 2 (Database). SNN102279.

<2> Randall, B, 2016, Archaeological evaluation report: Geophysical survey at Nassington (Report). SNN111264.

<3> Evershed, R, 2017, Archaeological evaluation report: Geophysical survey by magnetometry on land near Nassington, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN111265.

<4> Roberts, D., 2018, Research excavation at Nassington (Note). SNN111266.

<5> Crank, N. (Editor), 2018, South Midlands Archaeology (48), p. 54 (Journal). SNN111393.

<6> Roberts, D., 2019, A Roman farmstead at Walnut Tree Farm, Yarwell: An interim report (Article). SNN111790.

<7> Robert Evershed, 2020, ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION REPORT: GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY BY MAGNETOMETRY ON LAND OFF WOODNEWTON ROAD, NASSINGTON, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE (Report). SNN116773.

Record last edited

Mar 26 2025 2:45PM