If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Roman Settlement and Drove at Fen Farm

Full description

Area TF16613457 Possible RB settlement site. Small ditched enclosures & ditched causeway under grass. Plotted from APs. Site not visited. {2}{3} 1958 Roman grey ware reported during drainage works in field to SE at TF168343,& TF16723427.{1}{2}{3}{4}{5} 2 large fields indicated by Mrs. Hallam. The northern one shows no visible evidence of occupation,no finds in plough. Southern, pasture field has artificial ditches forming, with natural old water courses, a network of small fields. All earthworks are crisply profiled without silting or spreading & agricultural drainage of the C17-18.Pottery site under deep crop. {1} THE MONUMENT INCLUDES THE SITE OF A ROMAN SETTLEMENT, LOCATED ON A WIDE RODDON (EXTINCT WATERCOURSE) IN THE SILT FEN AND COMPRISING FIVE OR MORE ENCLOSED FARMSTEADS, WITH THEIR ASSOCIATED YARDS AND PADDOCKS, CLUSTERED AROUND A DROVE JUNCTION. THE GREATER PART OF THE SETTLEMENT SURVIVES UNDER PASTURE, WHERE THE DITCHES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DROVES, AND THE DITCHES AND PLATFORMS WHICH DEFINE THE YARDS, BUILDINGS, PADDOCKS AND FIELDS OF EACH FARMSTEAD, ARE VISIBLE AS LOW EARTHWORKS. IN THE NORTH EASTERN AND EXTREME SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE MONUMENT WHICH ARE UNDER CULTIVATION, THE PATTERN OF THE UNDERLYING DITCHES IS TRACEABLE IN LINES OF DARKER PLOUGHSOIL. EXCLUDED FROM THE SCHEDULE ARE THE MODERN FARM BUILDING SOUTH OF FEN FARM, THE MODERN FIELD BOUNDARY FENCES, HEDGES, GATES AND SUPPORTS FOR ELECTRIC FENCING WITHIN THE PASTURE FIELDS, ALTHOUGH THE GROUND BENEATH THESE FEATURES IS INCLUDED. THERE IS A FULL DESCRIPTION IN THE SCHEDULING DOCUMENT 20812. {7}

<1> OS CARD INDEX, TF 13 SE:1,1965, DA (Index). SLI2568.

<2> HALLAM, S.J., 1970, ‘Settlement around the Wash’ in The Fenland in Roman Times, GAZ 1634E,S P 268 (Article in Monograph). SLI63.

<3> HALLAM, S.J., 1970, The maps for ‘Settlement around the Wash’ in The Fenland in Roman Times, MAP 1C SHEET A (Map). SLI3705.

<4> ARAM, C.M., 1958, EAST MIDLANDS ARCHAEOLOGICAL BULLETIN, - (Index). SLI2239.

<5> SMR FILE, TF 13 SE:S - (Index). SLI3095.

<6> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1995, SCHEDULING DOCUMENT 20812, MPP 22 (Scheduling Record). SLI4337.

Monument Types

• ARTEFACT SCATTER (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FARMSTEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SETTLEMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument

Sources and further reading

Related records

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.