Monument record 1761/1 - Little Addington Roman Villa

Probable Roman villa was examined in 1967. It lies on a clearly defined mound and various building fragments were located in the vicinity. Medieval sherds and worked flints have also been found scattered in the field to the south. The Roman villa was revealed by aerial photographs showing at least one range of rectangular buildings orientated north/ south, with additional buildings on the southern side

{1}Cropmark of villa during noted aerial photography 1982 NGR SP 964742.

{2} Roman villa revealed by aerial photographs showing at least one range of rectangular buildings orientated north/ south, with additional buildings on the southern side. Fragmentary glimpse also of linear ditch systems visible on aerial photographs, but no coherent pattern limited to the buildings emerges. Finds of Roman material from a wide surrounding area support the view that the villa was a large establishment but its nucleus is still marked by a roughly square platform some 15m square. Tiles, building stone and painted wall plaster are recorded from the site. Under plough.

{3} Extensive significant problems: arable ploughing;

{5} A dense scatter of Roman pottery, limestone, roofing and flue tiles, fragments of painted wall plaster, tesserae, bones and oyster shells were found on the villa mound. Pottery has also been found to the south.

{6} May 1967: scatter 34 yards from north hedge, on mound. Scatter 75yds by 67yds north north west to south south east. A lesser scatter continues southwards for c. 50yds.

{7} Slide from Alexander Rollings of Rushden of architectural fragment: Roman cornice stone work, possibly 2nd century.

{9} Mr Rollings sites the mound to SP 9645 7425, and has in his possession finds of RB pottery and tile from here. The site is under plough, and a thick scatter of Roman occupation debris was found. There was also fragmentary late Md pottery and modern pipe (drainage). The mound is too widely spread to be surveyed.

{10} Listed in gazetteer of Roman villas.

<1> Foard G.; Richardson D., 1983, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1982 (Aerial Photography), p182 Little Addington (Notes). SNN100412.

<2> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1986, DOE Scheduled Ancient Monuments: Northamptonshire (Parts 5-8) (Schedule). SNN104787.

<3> Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2016, p. 53 (Report). SNN110747.

<4> Historic England, 2017, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2017, p. 60 (Report). SNN111090.

<4> Historic England, 2018, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2018, p. 60 (Report). SNN111434.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.3/Site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<6> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1967, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1966/67 (Roman), p.13 (unchecked) (Article). SNN58197.

<7> Woodfield C., Oral Report to SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN53194.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP97SE26 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<9> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 03-DEC-1969 (Note). SNN111452.

<10> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, p. 145/NH75 (Monograph). SNN110345.

<11> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire I (North-East), 890151 (Archive). SNN113295.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:03PM