More information : (SU 71492506). Roman Camp (G.S.) Earthwork (G.S.) (1-2)
At Froxfield ... a shallow "bath", 3 1/2ft. square, paved with
Roman tiles was excavated and destroyed in 1855. A small
earthwork, with a triple fosse on its N.W. side, is on the same
site. (3-4)
Excavations were carried out by Mr. Stevens from 1934-38. They
revealed that a square area of c. 1 1/2 acres with stone and
wooden buildings had been enclosed with a clay bank and ditch,
some 6ft deep, probably about A.D. 40-70. In the first century
the buildings had been destroyed and the eastern bank had been
partially tipped into the ditch.
Later the site was occupied again and the interior levelled
with clay, but no buildings had been found. Finally the
enclosure had been extended to four acres by completely filling
in the eastern ditch, and, by the 4th c., flint buildings had
been erected in it. (5-6)
(Description and Plan). (7)
Mr. Stevens is said now to believe that the first phase,
including the rampart, is not Roman, but pseudo-Roman, possibly
erected by COMMIUS. (8)
The work stands on the summit of a prominent E-W ridge
commanding extensive views to the North and South. It comprises
a main rectangular enclosure measuring some 80.0m. NW-SE by
approximately 150m. SW-NE., defended on the north and west by a
rampart some 2.0m. in height and on the south by ditch up to
1.2m. in depth. The eastern side appears to have been
completely levelled.
At SU 71562505, within this enclosure, are the remains of some
old excavations.
Abutting onto the N side of the main enclosure are the NE and
NW sides of another enclosure measuring some 50.0m. square,
which is defended by a ditch with traces of an external bank.
The SW side appears to have been levelled.
Published 1/2500 revised. (9)
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