Monument record MLI83502 - Roman Buildings, Villa and Associated Agricultural Features, Rectory Farm

Summary

Roman Buildings, Villa and Associated Agricultural Features, Rectory Farm

Type and Period (10)

  • (Roman - 43 AD to 300 AD?)
  • (Roman - 43 AD to 300 AD?)
  • (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

PRN 35805 The transition into the Roman period on this site was not necessarily a clearly defined one. Roman evidence in the very early period is not well demonstrated on this site. Change from the Iron Age through to the Roman period did occur; initially it appears that a large number of linear boundaries were constructed. There was some early Roman occupation here as a number of 1st century brooches that have been recovered are testament to. A small enclosure dating to the middle of the Roman period was identified which contained 3rd century pottery. A double rectilinear enclosure was also identified with associated parallel ditches. During the 2nd to the early 3rd century the enclosures on the site changed dramatically. There is evidence for the construction of post-built structures and there is a presence of imported wares; bronze brooches, coins and some samian ware. At TF 1153 1012 fragmentary evidence suggests a masonry structure. Associated with this is an aisled building and a well, which both have subsequently been robbed. A new enclosing boundary was constructed close to the badly robbed remains of a long rectangular bathhouse. The bathhouse had four connecting rooms, Frigidarium, Ialarium, Tepidarium and a Caldarium and a fifth furnace room or Praefernium. An area of opus signinum floor survived in the Tepidarium as well as a single pila in situ. A layer of ash and charcoal may suggest a smithy. There was a villa consisting of two rectangular buildings, each approximately 33m x 12m, and parallel to each other, which were then joined by a single masonry wall, probably to form a courtyard. The northern building was probably an aisled hall, and the southern building was most likely divided into different sized rooms. The southern room also has a 5m square foundation at its western end, presumably for a tessellated pavement of some sort. In one of the rooms there were remains of a hypocaust and decorated walls. Five oven kilns were found within the confines of this villa as well as a corn dryer/oven and 213 fragments of kiln. The corn dryer/oven comprised of an L-shaped ditch, which was surrounded by ten limestone blocks, which may have been the flue for the dryer. In the vicinity of the villa nine infant burials were identified, and are all thought to be fourth century in date. A dog buried in a pit was also found. [This is a temporary record and needs further revision] {1}{2}{3}{4} During trial trenching in 2002, centred on TF1121 1003, Roman features were recorded in Trenches 4, 5, 12 and 13. Ditches were recorded on varying alignments, many of which produced building stone associated with late Roman pottery. The pottery assemblage spanned the whole Roman period with an emphasis on the third and fourth centuries. Several contexts produced Iron Age wares, suggesting the possibility of an Iron Age or early Roman precursor to this site.{6} Two rolled up lead tablets of fourth-century date, one inscribed with a protective spell, were also found at the site.{7}

Sources/Archives (7)

  •  Report: Tempus Reparatum. 1990. Rectory Farm, West Deeping.
  •  Report: Geophysical Surveys of Bradford. 1991. Rectory Farm, West Deeping.
  •  Report: Tempus Reparatum. 1991. Rectory Farm, West Deeping. RFWD02.
  •  Report: Tempus Reparatum. 1994. Rectory Farm, West Deeping.
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1946-98. RCHME. TF1110/8,9; TF1210/1,5.
  •  Report: Cambridge Archaeological Unit. May 2002. Land at West Deeping (King Street). WDP02.
  •  Article in Serial: HASSALL, M.W.C. AND TOMLIN, R.S.O.. 1996. Britannia. vol. 27 (1996), pp.443-46.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 1182 1010 (1450m by 795m) (3 map features)
Civil Parish WEST DEEPING, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Related Events/Activities (5)

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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