Monument record MLI22196 - Romano-British Salt-Making Site, Shell Bridge, Holbeach St Johns

Summary

A Romano-British salt-making site at Shell Bridge, Holbeach St Johns.

Type and Period (14)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

Cropmarks indicating the northward extension of a Roman site at Shell Bridge (see 20016) were seen on aerial photographs. Prior to levelling of the area it was excavated in 1961 by E Greenfield for the Ministry of Works. This revealed drove ditches, a clay pit, a working area with many stake holes and a clamp. Pottery suggesting Flavian to late 3rd century occupation, baked clay saltern debris, peat ash, soot and charcoal were also found. P Mayes also took part. Certain features are to be excavated at later date by the Ministry of Works. [The indicated area is under high crop. The markings seen on aerial photographs suggest that the site is contemporary with the site at PRN 20016]. {1}{2}{3}{4} There was an excavation by the Boston Archaeology Group in 1960. At TF3428 1624 three clay lined troughs and handbricks were found. At TF3400 1638 a hut site was located in the north-west corner of the field. {5}{6} Further details of the above two excavations revealed the site in greater detail. Site A lay in the north-west corner of the field and was partly excavated by Philip Mayes in 1960 and completed by Ernest Greenfield in 1961. An oval or sub-rectangular hollow was thought to be a hut, though this interpretation seems unlikely. Postholes were noted around the perimeter, and a cluster of brick and stone on the west side was presumed to be a hearth, suggesting industrial activity. A large pit was recorded south of the 'hut'. Ditches belonging to a droveway were about 3m in width and the droveway itself was about 14m in width. The droveway may have been fenced - narrow dark lines were noted fringing the droveway ditches on aerial photographs. Pottery was of mainly second and third century date. Site B West was excavated by Greenfield in 1961. Trenches IV to VIII in this area were dominated by a north-west/south-east aligned ditch, the base of which was cut by a large number of stakeholes. Three other linear features were also noted. Briquetage, animal bone, shell and mid second to early third century pottery were recovered. In the area of Trenches I, II, III and X, an irregular hollow filled with ashy loam and briquetage was recorded, along with ditches, pits and a possible hearth. Finds in this area included Antonine, Trajanic and Hadrianic samian, a coin of AD180 to AD192, a Colchester derivative brooch of AD75-150/175, a cheese press lid and two bone pin fragments. A sub-rectangular enclosure measured about 17.5m by about 15m and was thought to be of later date than other exposed features, although no finds were recovered to confirm this. Trenches XII to XVII were dominated by an irregular hollow which paralleled the south-west side of the enclosure, the base of which was cut by a large number of stakeholes. Postholes, a hearth and hollows were also dug into the base or the fills, and briquetage was recovered. Trajanic/Hadrianic to Antonine samian was recovered, and other pottery dated from the mid second to early third century; an Aesica brooch, four copper alloy needles, four bone pins and a dog skeleton were also recovered. In the main, features in this area remain enigmatic, with a suggestion of industrial activity, and pottery finds indicating more domestic occupation. Site B East was excavated by Philip Mayes and the Boston Archaeological Group in 1960, followed by Ernest Greenfield in 1961. Three salterns were recorded, along with a U-shaped feature with stakeholes in its base enclosing an area about 12m by about 8m which continued from Saltern I. Five features were described by Greenfield as clay pits. Briquetage and animal bone were found. {7}{8}{9}{10}{11}{12}{13}

Sources/Archives (13)

  •  Index: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Card Index. TF 31 NW: 16.
  •  Article in Serial: D.F. Petch. 1961. ‘Archaeological Notes for 1959 and 1960’ in Lincolnshire Architectural and Archaeological Society Reports and Papers. vol.9, part.1 (new series), pp. 17, 100.
  •  Map: HALLAM, S.J.. 1970. The maps for ‘Settlement around the Wash’ in The Fenland in Roman Times. Map 7 Sheet G.
  •  Article in Serial: 1962. 'Roman Britain in 1961' in Journal of Roman Studies. vol.52, p.168.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 31 NW: D, E, K, X.
  •  Article in Serial: WHITWELL, J.B.. 1963. Lincolnshire Architectural and Archaeological Society Reports and Papers. vol.10, part.1, p.5.
  •  Article in Monograph: HALLAM, S.J.. 1970. ‘Settlement around the Wash’ in The Fenland in Roman Times. GAZ 3416N p.309.
  •  Unpublished Document: MAYES, P.. PARISH FILE. HOLBEACH. -.
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. FN45-7;YF12-7;HB18-22;NZ21-6;AAQ12.
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1946-98. RCHME. 1587/2-4;2323-11 - 15, 1980.
  •  Article in Serial: A.B. Page (ed.). 1984. 'Archaeology in Lincolnshire and South Humberside, 1983' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.19, p.107.
  •  Artefact: City and County Museum Collection. ACC NO 145.77.
  •  Article in Monograph: Gurney, David. 1999. Lincolnshire Salterns: Excavations at Hepringham, Holbeach St Johns and Bicker Haven. pp.20-69.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 3414 1619 (443m by 631m)
Civil Parish HOLBEACH, SOUTH HOLLAND, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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