Monument record 829/1 - Roman Villa, Nether Heyford

Site of a Roman villa found in 1699 at Nether Heyford in Horestone or Horsestone meadow. The principal discovery was part of a polychrome mosaic with an elaborate geometrical design. Some other rooms were observed to have white plaster floors with coloured borders. Also found were roofing slates, tiles, painted wall plaster, samian, and other sherds. In 1780 the mosaic was taken up and used to mend roads. More recent investigation has included geophysical and fieldwalking surveys.

{1} Roman pavement in Harlestone Medow at Nether Heyford. Drawing p.323-4, drawn by Mr. H.Gray of Heyford. Descriped as 15ft square.

{2} A villa was found in 1699 at Nether Heyford in Horestone or Horsestone meadow. The principal discovery was part of a polychrome mosaic with an elaborate geometrical design. Some other rooms were observed to have white plaster floors with coloured borders. Also found were roofing slates, tiles, painted wall plaster, samian, and other sherds. In 1780 the mosaic was taken up and used to mend roads, and in 1821 the site was re-examined with no important results. Baker (b) estimated the whole area of the building "as marked by the disturbed surface and discoloured vegetation "at no more than 100 feet"

{4} Roman building lies in a meadow called Wonston, Horestone or Horsestone. The building was discovered in 1699 when part of a polychrome mosaic with an elaborate geometrical design of boxes framing patterns of duplex knots, guilloche and lotus flowers was found. Other rooms were noted which had plaster floors with coloured borders. Slates, tiles, painted wall plaster and pottery including Samian were also recorded. In 1780 the mosaic was taken up and used for road mending. The site was re-examined in 1821 but few finds were made.
Roman pottery, part of the mosaic and some wall footings were found during digging on the site before 1952.

{6} Limited excavations with the objectives of identifying the plan and establishing the date of the complex. At least 3 phases provisionally identified: a circular stone structure (part of collapsed wall believed to survive in situ); a rectangular structure follows to which was added a corridor with two wings. Some floors survive including a fragment of mosaic plus some floral design decorated wall plaster. Corn dryer present in one wing together with some carbonised seed. Earlier features known to survive beneath excavated areas. Villa provisionally dated from early 2nd century to 4th century.

{7} Possible cropmark: roughly rectangular patch of lighter coloured vegetation visible at the published position of the Roman building

{8} Whole area of buildings marked by disturbed surface and discoloured vegetation "at no more than 100ft"

{11} Site rediscovered in 1952; lies beneath 8ins of turf.

{12} "RB sherds, some pavement, and some foundations have been located in field no 97" at (SP 66675865) … " I have previously mentioned that I have already exposed a portion of the pavement which tallies with the drawing given by Morton and the VCH". (The siting symbol of the villa was moved to this point in the revision of 1958; previously it had been placed at SP 66505832).

{13} The geophysical survey showed the outline of wall foundations as negative anomalies. Within the broader structural outlines, individual rooms are visible within the resultant plot. This floor plan depicts a typical Roman winged-corridor villa: a long passage with rooms opening off from it. At its north end is a circular-shaped anomaly similar to that excavated at the southern end. This denotes the remains of a roundhouse predating the villa, which was later incorporated into the main building complex.

{14} Systematic fieldwalking was undertaken by CLASP as part of its Local People-Local Past project covering the areas identified by the geophysical survey as being of high archaeological potential. In the northern part of the survey area, where the villa is located, high densities of finds, including pottery, tesserae, stone, roof and floor tile and hypocaust tile where found.

{15} Symbol on 1958 map has moved from SP66505832 to 66675865.

{16} A roughly rectangular patch of lighter coloured vegetation is visible at the precise position that the building is published.

{17} The field is under plough, small fragments of RB greyware at the published site found during investigation.

{18} NH 85 Listed as the site of a Roman villa.

<1> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p.527 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10113.

<2> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.196/ F Haverfield Drawing (Series). SNN100368.

<3> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p.527 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10113.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.89/Site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.519 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<6> Cadman, G., 1995, Archive Report of Reconnaissance Survey at Upper and Nether Heyford, Kislingbury and Bugbrooke Parishes, 1991, (checked) (Report). SNN107268.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP65NE1 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<8> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.191 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<9> Rainey A, 1973, Mosaics in Roman Britain, p.122 (unchecked) (Book). SNN102978.

<10> CORDER P., 1954, The Roman Town and Villa at Great Casterton, Rutland, pp.35-9 (unchecked) (Report). SNN69981.

<11> 1952, Journal of the Northamptonshire Natural History Society and Field Club, 32/176 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN13140.

<12> FROST H.C.R., 1952, Letter and Sketch, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN47422.

<13> Masters, P., 2005, Geophysical Survey at Horstone Brook, Nether Heyford, Northants, 2005, p. 4 (Report). SNN109005.

<14> CLASP, 2006, Local People - Local Past (Compact Disk). SNN106688.

<15> 1958, OS 6 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN13121.

<16> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, (RAF CPE/UK/1826, 4037-8 16-01-47) (Photographs). SNN104890.

<17> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 06-FEB-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<18> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, P. 146/NH 85 (Monograph). SNN110345.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:57PM