Monument record 3060/1 - Possible Romano-British Iron Working Site (Brookfield Cottage Site 1)

Extensive areas of burning were exposed along with charcoal and iron slag during topsoil stripping before quarrying in 1968. Excavation revealed the presence of an iron working site.

{1} Topsoil stripping followed by excavation in 1968, possibly by D.Jackson. Extensive areas of burning were exposed along with charcoal and iron slag. Excavation revealed the presence of an iron working site.

{2} Topsoil stripping exposed an extensive are of burnt patches, charcoal and tap-slag suggesting iron smelting. An investigation of part of the area revealed a number of features, although only the bottoms of features had survived earlier ploughing, and no dating evidence was found.
The site follows the limit of the boulder clay, into which all the features were cut. Ironstone lumps occur locally as glacial erratics and it is possible that these could have been used. The features occur on a slight slope facing south and were all aligned north-south.
The remains of a different type of feature to the furnaces were indicated by linear strips of burning occuring in groups. One group investigated had five parallel features approximately 10ft long x 2ft wide and 2ft 6in apart, but the remains were so scant that it was inpossible to accurately assess their size or function.
A number of irregularly shaped pits occurred, two of which were excavated. These were approximately 5ft and 3ft deep below the scraped level. They had been dug into clay and were filled with clay containing ashy streaks. There was no burning of the sides. It was found after rain that they were excellent for holding water and no other use could be suggested for them, unless the best clay extracted had been used as furnace lining and the surplus inferior clay then thrown back in.

{4} Two shaft furnaces and two groups of channel hearths were discovered during ironstone quarrying.

{5} Site 1 (Site 2 is Mon 3061). All features in this area were aligned north-south along with the natural fall of the ground. Two groups of channel hearths were located in this area. Group 1 was situated some 6m south of Furnaces 1 and 2, and consisted of five parallel channels. At the end of one was an irregular hole c.0.3m deep, which would have supported some kind of anvil. Group 2 comprised at least three parallel channel hearths fairly close to Furnace 3. Only one end of Group 2 was exposed as they ran under the adjacent hedgeline. Site plan.
A number of quarry pits were dug, variable in size. The pit seen in section in the quarry face was c.1.5m deep and bell-shaped in profile. It had clearly been dug to extract the nodular ironstone found level with the bottom of the pit. Above the ironstone there was a layer of grey sandy clay which was undoubtedly used in furnace construction and it is therefore possible that some of the pits were dug only to extract this clay.
A few unstratified sherds of Roman pottery were found on both Sites 1 [Mon 3060] and 2 [Mon 3061].

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.24/Site 1 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> Jackson D., 1970, Fieldwork and Excavation in North Eastern Northamptonshire, p.39-40 (checked) (Article). SNN4821.

<3> 1969, MOW Archaeological Excavations 1968, p.18 (unchecked) (Series). SNN57828.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.186/Site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<5> JACKSON D.A., 1979, Roman Iron Working at Bulwick and Gretton, p.31-37 (checked) (Article). SNN40133.

<6> Moore W.R.G., 1968, Roman Settlement in the Upper and Middle Nene Valley, p. 50 (Uncertain). SNN15188.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:07PM