More information : An extensive settlement, probably of Roman date, was seen as
cropmarks and mapped from good quality air photographs. The
settlement is located along the floor of a narrow valley between the
village of Hambleden (to the N) and a great bend in the River
Thames.
A Roman road runs N-S along the valley and is visible for 700m: the
N part of the road is defined by ditches (SU 7857 8571; Morph No.
TG.363.12.4), while at the S end metalling can be seen for 330m
(SU 7856 8547; Morph No. TG.363.12.5).
To the E of the road, an ordered field system comprising regular
rectilinear units extends for more than 1km (Centred at SU 7865
8607; Morph No. TG.363.12.1). The field system is between 110m and
150m wide, with units ranging between 100m and 200m long. Although
extensive, the pattern is somewhat fragmentary, and smaller
subdivisions are also present within field units, suggesting more
than one phase of development. The bulk of the field system appears
to lie to the E of the road, although a few related ditches have
also been recorded to the W (SU 7851 8581; Morph No. TG.363.12.6).
Similar, possibly related, enclosures have also been recorded 3km
farther N along the valley (SU 78 NE 42).
Short lengths of trackway, showing evidence of metalled surfaces,
can be seen on the sloping valley side to the E of the field system,
apparently linking the fields (or the valley) and the higher ground
to the E (SU 7873 8607; Morph No. TG.363.12.3) (SU 7884 8570; Morph
No. TG.363.12.15) (SU 7897 8572; Morph No. TG.363.12.16).
A large rectangular enclosure at a central position within the field
system (SU 7862 8571; Morph No. TG.363.12.10) has a N-facing
entrance and appears to contain a smaller, double ditched enclosure
or structure with a W-facing entrance (SU 7865 8573; Morph No.
TG.363.12.11). The inner, double ditched inclosure is 45m by at
least 30m overall and the larger outer enclosure is 90m by at least
80m and possibly as much as 120m. The impression is of a large
building within an enclosure, representing a feature of some
importance.
Adjacent to the SW corner of the large enclosure described above is
a ditch-defined hexagonal feature 12m across with a central pit
(SU 7862 8567; Morph No. TG.363.12.17-18) whose form is very
reminiscent of a temple or shrine.
The whole complex of field system, roads, building and temple
occupies a good position within the valley near the River Thames,
and must be associated in some way with the Hambleden villa complex
immediately to the W (SU 78 NE 5), and probably also with the villa at Mill End (SU 78 SE 4) less than 1km to the S, on the bank of the River Thames.
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database.
(1) |