Monument record 639/1 - Roman farmstead, Middlemore Farm

Evidence from archaeological excavation suggests that during the Roman period the land around Middlemore Farm was occupied by a small Romano British Farmstead. The pottery evidence seems to indicate that the site was occupied during the 1st to 3rd centuries AD.

{1} A watching brief was undertaken. A number of features datable to the Romano-British period were identified. These comprised pits and part of a rectangular enclosure.

{2} The only archaeological features lay at the western end of Plot 1, to the north of the modern farm
buildings. These comprised two linear ditch systems that contained a small assemblage of Romano-
British pottery and ceramic building tile spanning the late 1st to 4th centuries. These features,
together with the results of previous excavation, indicate the former presence of a small Roman
settlement occupying an area of at least 1ha lying under and around the present farm buildings.

{3} Excavation of Plot 2. A number of linear features, pits and postholes were exposed. With the exception of a few insignificant modern pits/ post-holes and a single north to south medieval plough furrow, these features have all been dated by examination of the pottery to the Roman period. The pottery ranges in date from 1st – 3rd century AD. A large ditch running roughly northwest to southeast probably represents the southern boundary of the Roman activity at Middlemore. One of the larger Roman pits contained the remains of at least one juvenile cow.
The excavated evidence from Sites 1 and 2 suggests that during the Roman period the land around Middlemore Farm was occupied by a small Romano British Farmstead. The pottery evidence seems to indicate that the site was occupied during the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. It is likely that this farmstead was a small self-sufficient unit, providing little produce for the surrounding area, unlike the large villa estates which were being founded at this time.

{4} Truncated ditches, pits and a gully were revealed during the “strip and record” fieldwork in 2006. Recovered pot sherds suggest 1st-2nd century Romano-British rural activity, contemporary with a suggested 1st-3rd century Romano-British farmstead located c.80m northeast at Site 2. The fieldwork suggests that the main focus of settlement lay beneath Middleore Farmhouse, with only agricultural features on the lower lying ground. A watching brief undertaken to the south of this area did not find any archaeological remains.

<1> Leigh D., 2002, Middlemore Farm, Daventry, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Watching Brief, p.2 (checked) (Report). SNN102316.

<2> Leigh D., 2003, Excavation of Roman Features at Plot 1, Middlemore Farm, Daventry, Northamptonshire, February-March 2003 (Report). SNN103293.

<3> Wilson N., 2004, Archaeological Excavation: Site 2, Middlemore Farm, Daventry, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN104812.

<4> Hancock A., 2006, 'Strip and Record' Plus Watching Brief: Site 5A, Middlemore Farm, Daventry, Northamptonshire, p.10-11 (checked) (Report). SNN105650.

<5> Horne B. (Editor), 2008, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (38), p.37 (checked) (Journal). SNN106282.

Record last edited

Nov 16 2021 9:20AM