SNN108094 - Targeted Archaeological Excavations at Chester Farm, Irchester, Northamptonshire September 2011

Northamptonshire County Council commissioned Northamptonshire Archaeology to excavate two targeted trenches within the area of the Roman walled town of Irchester, Northamptonshire. The purpose was to establish the impact of recent ploughing of the site, identify the extent of any damage caused by recent illegal grazing by travellers' horses and characterise the nature of the antiquarian excavations of the later 19th century. The questions were seen as pertinent to inform the future management of the site. Previous magnetometer survey of the walled town identified several structures and roads, including two possible temple complexes, one of which was to be explorer. The second trench was to examine the area of the north-east corner of the town where a water trough had been a focus for grazing horses who had worn a hollow.