Monument record 724/3 - Possible Romano-British Bath House and Temple

Antiquarian account of the discovery of Roman bath house during the construction of a pumping station in the late 19th century. Three sculptured heads were also found, one of which is in the British Museum. They may be related to a funerary monument or temple on site. No evidence of either has been found during extensive excavation in the 1970s-80s.

{1} Marked Bath or Temple Site

{2} Features were discovered during building development around 1880 of the construction of a pumping station

{3} The land on the north side of the site is occupied by a 19th-century pumping station. It is said that when this was constructed in about 1880 the remains of a Roman bath-house were found. No details of this are known except for three sculptured heads, one of which is in the British Museum. This is described as an antefix but is more likely to be part of a funerary monument. It shows classical influence but its treatment and expression are entirely native. It has been suggested that these remains may be related to a temple on site.

{4} In the 1850s there was mention of a temple and a bath suite being identified in this area. However, no evidence of either was found during the excavation indicating their remains, if still in existence, lie elsewhere. It is perhaps more likely that the mill was mistaken for a bath suite with its position so close to a water supply.

{7} An impressive head, described as an antifix, but more likely a funerary monument comes from Towcester. It shows Classical influence, but the treatment and expression is entirely native.

{8} Indicated site now occupied by waterworks.

{11} Fragments from a Romano-British house at Wood Burcote. Find date given as 1867. Possibly from Villa/temple?

<1> OS 6 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN12480.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP64NE10 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.157/Site 5 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<4> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1977, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1976, 12/218 (checked) (Report). SNN723.

<5> Turland, R E & Woods, P J, 2017, Excavations at Burcote Wood Farm, Wood Burcote, Towcester, Northamptonshire, 1972-1982 and 2010: An introductory account, p. 32 (Book). SNN110764.

<6> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, ALF Rivet (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<7> Ross, A, 1967, Pagan Celtic Britain, P. 87 (Book). SNN68855.

<8> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, 13-JUL-70 (Notes). SNN111540.

<9> 1974, Britannia, P. 277-8 (Journal). SNN58444.

<10> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, P. 148 (Monograph). SNN110345.

<11> Northampton Museum Records, Accession No.7 (checked) (Uncertain). SNN126.

<12> British Museum Accession Register, (checked) (Catalogue). SNN10055.

<13> Proceedings of The Society of Antiquaries, 19/287 FIG (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN12492.

<14> KENDRICK T.D., ANGLO-SAXON ART, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN60137.

<15> ESMONDE CLEARY S., 1987, Extra-Mural Areas of Romano-British Towns, 133-4 (checked) (Report). SNN62389.

<16> TOYNBEE J., 1962, ART IN ROMAN BRITAIN, (unchecked) (Book). SNN55577.

<17> Woodfield C., 1998, LETTERS, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN58562.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:56PM