Monument record 93/1 - Stoke Bruerne Roman Villa

In July 1969 parchmarks seen in grass showing complex corridor-type villa. Other buildings to north west, south west, north east, south east possible open court facing south east.

{1} Site commanding fine view eastwards. In July 1969 parchmarks seen in grass showing complex corridor-type villa. Other buildings to north west, south west, north east, south east possible open court facing south east. Small trenches showed foundations, c.60cm wide, 15cm below surface. Roof and floor tiles, pottery, tesserae and 2nd century Samian found.
Site now under plough with much surface material. One or two sherds of Belgic pot near eastern edge of field (outside scheduled area) and stone spread with Romano-British pot in adjacent field to east.
Possible wall foundation in field to west.

{2} In July 1969 well defined parchmarks were reported in a grass field at Stoke Bruerne. A ground survey revealed a small Roman corridor villa. Later aerial photographs showed the existence of associated farm buildings forming a courtyard. There was no trace of a boundary ditch, bank or wall. Surface finds included grey ware, colour coated ware and a little Samian. Flue tiles were found and also Collyweston type roofing tiles, some iron nails, and two pieces of glass. There was a fair amount of tesserae but very little building stone on the surface. No estimation of date could be arrived at and there was also no sign of a Roman road on aerial photographs of the site or the
surrounding countryside.

{4} Mr Irlam (farmer) Stoke Plain, Stoke Bruerne indicated at SP 7546 5003 the site at which in July 1969 he noticed what appeared to be the foundations of a building, showing as marks in pasture. On closure investigation and subsequent trial excavation Mr Irlam unearthed a large amount of RB occupational debris and wall foundations, the debris included roof & flue tile, samian, colour coated, grey or gritted potsherds, nails, animal bones and oyster shells. All the finds are in his possession. He also took a series of colour slides showing the scorching and has produced a sketch plan of the site. (See attached copy). The slides are of a high quality and show well the lines of foundations. The site is still under pasture but the winter crop obscures the foundations; several minor surface finds were made during field investigation including roof tile, tesserae and potsherds, - these were left on the site. The conclusions drawn from the above information and the topographical situation is that this is the site of a Ro building (possibly a villa)
Siting symbol surveyed on AM 25".

{5} Roman pottery was first noted on the site in 1945. In 1969 the foundations of a small corridor building 50 m by 30 m, orientated N-S, were observed as parchmarks in the pasture field and later excavations revealed foundations of walls, roof and flue tiles, pottery including samian, grey and colour-coated wares, glass, tesserae and animal bones. Recent air photographs (NCAU) show that this building is one part of a large villa. It appears to lie in the centre of the E. side of a courtyard at least 150 m wide, with other buildings along the W and S sides as well as on the E. There are also indications of other well-defined structures lying obliquely to the visible buildings within the area of the courtyard.

{6} A sherd of RB pottery (part of a base and side) was picked up c1945.

{11} NH 107 Listed as the site of a double corridor villa and outbuildings on three sides of a court yard.

{12} A sherd of RB pottery (part of a base and side) picked up by Mr W B Hatherley, c.1945.

<1> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1986, DOE Scheduled Ancient Monuments: Northamptonshire (Parts 5-8) (Schedule). SNN104787.

<2> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1970, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1969 (Roman), 4/12-13 (unchecked) (Article). SNN100535.

<4> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments (Notes). SNN110341.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.136/Site 4 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP75SE4 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<7> TOPOGRAPHICAL GENERAL FILE-SITE LIST, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN46154.

<8> Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2016, p. 56 (Report). SNN110747.

<9> Historic England, 2017, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2017, p. 64 (Report). SNN111090.

<10> Historic England, 2018, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2018, p. 64 (Report). SNN111434.

<11> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, p. 147, NH 107 (Monograph). SNN110345.

<12> Annotated Record Map, Corr 6" 1949 (R W Brown; Inf Miss J M Morris) (Map). SNN112961.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:53PM