More information : Roman building visible from the air at SP 97107178, where there is a slight mound. This is the site photographed by St Joseph, but incorrectly placed by him at SP 964708 (see SP 97 SE 12). Field name evidence shows it to be the location of the site mentioned by Bridges as Meadow Furlong, Stanwick, and again in VCH I. (The St Joseph cropmarks actually appear to be situated at SP 97137180. See Moore's plan). (1)
"Stanwick. Here 1 1/4 miles S of Mallows Cotton (SP 97 SE 4)
fragments of a tessellated pavement are said to have been found
at the further end of 'the meadow furlong'. I was told...that
the site is W of the village, between it and the Nene...". (2)
SP 971717. Site of Roman villa seen from the air. Many 2nd to 4th
century sherds; large red, white and grey tesserae; tiles
including flue tiles; and oyster shells have been found. (3)
Two Neolithic flints found at SP 97207180 by A E Rollings in 1964. (4)
Small circular enclosures seen on air photographs at SP 97247175
and SP 97317179. (5)
Small fragments of Romano-British potsherds found; also a
slight mound at SP 97097174. Rollings confirmed the site where he
found the flints (scrapers) which are in his possession. (6)
Roman villa (AP 971717) NW of Stanwick close to the R.Nene on River
Gravel at 140 ft above OD. Air photographs show a group of
buildings, their walls visible as parch-marks, associated with a
series of linear ditches and enclosures. A ditched trackway running
N from the site is also visible, but this may be a later feature.
Large quantities of Roman pottery, tile and stone have been noted,
as well as some Iron Age pottery. The field to the SE is under
permanent pasture and no features can be seen there. (7)
Stanwick Roman village excavation. The villa was located in the first season of excavation, 1984. The features, including three mosaics were just below the topsoil, it also became apparent the villa was but a part of a complex Roman settlement. During 1985 excavation on the villa was suspended in order to investigate Roman remains in a field to the north of the site. Three walled compounds were discovered, initially containing round house structures of a type considered to be a characteristic of Roman Northamptonshire. A rectangular building was found close to the river, by the end of the 2nd century this area had become a small cemetery with up to 17 graves.
Underlying the Roman occupation there were extensive Iron Age remains which were also below a cultivation layer similar to 19th century `lazybeds'. This cultivation layer is dated from the Iron Age to the 2nd century.
During the 1986 season an area of trapezoidal enclosures was investigated where 400 coins had already been found by metal detector users. The most interesting enclosure was a walled courtyard, which was soon replaced by a rectangular house with a small paved courtyard in front. This was then replaced by a more elborate hall on the west side of a turreted, walled courtyard.
To the west down by the river were three circular buildings, but on the higher ground there was another unusual building, possibly a shrine, in the vicinity a miniature bronze axe was recovered and also a pipe clay Venus figurine.
The excavator believes the site should still be classified as a villa as comparative sites in the country have shown that villas were far more complex than previously thought, and that if more villas were investigated intensively they would also prove to be extensive production centres. Alternatively it could be that Stanwick is an example of Roman occupation where villa and village finally merge. (8)
Assumed to be the site listed in gazetteer of Roman villas (9).
Additional references (10 -14). |