Ridgeway Excavation 16th April 2005
Introduction and Background
The Ridgeway forms part of the extensive post World War II residential development built on the southern slopes of the long flat-topped hill that today separates the town of Market Harborough from the present village of Great Bowden. In the past this area was within Great Bowden until its absorption into Market Harborough in the 1920s. It is now just outside the new parish of Great Bowden which was created in 1995. The Ridgeway is built on the hill-top and from there are extensive views over the Welland Valley and the Langton Brook valley floor. Before the modern houses were built the extensive views would have extended to the south as well.
Local people have been discovering Roman pot sherds and coins in their gardens for many years. In June 2004 the Great Bowden Heritage Group held a collecting day for archaeological finds and a large jar of Roman pottery sherds was handed in. This also included 14 sherds of Iron Age pottery. Close to the source of this pottery a member of the Heritage group had been finding a large quantity of Roman pottery in her garden. A selection of these were identified by Richard Knox (from Leics. County Council Heritage Services) at the Heritage Group’s collecting day at the Ridgeway School later in 2004. She had also unearthed a large area of stones towards the rear of her garden along with many more finds including many Roman pieces. Richard Pollard (from Heritage Services) visited the site and thought the stones could have been the remains of a Roman floor or collapsed wall.
The Excavation
We were lucky to have a dry day for the dig although it had been wet during the previous week. The team consisted of 25 members including several children and it was felt that everyone enjoyed themselves and kept busy. We had a short break at lunchtime for a barbeque. We are very grateful to our colleague and her family for letting us invade in such numbers.
Pit 1
A metre square test pit (Pit 1) was dug at the end of the garden to a depth of 60 cms. Each 10 cms was photographed. At 60 cms the boulder clay was reached. Pottery finds from this pit were mostly Roman. The pit was backfilled after recordings were made.
Pit 2
The large area of stone to the south of the test pit had previously been partially excavated. (Pit 2) The area measured approximately 3 metres x 2 metres and we recorded 6 metre square grids. Some modern finds and some Roman pot were found indicating that the soil had been turned over. The stones were rough and not even and it was felt it was unlikely to be a floor. However once the stones had been raised there was a flat area of boulder clay directly underneath and no other soil. This could indicate a clay floor. The stones were not just randomly dropped there or soil would have occurred underneath. The photographs seem to show lines of stones not visible to the naked eye and we wonder if it is a collapsed wall or walls. We have no way of knowing if it is Roman or later. The stones were rather near the surface for Roman remains but it is possible that the garden was levelled when the modern house was built.
At the north-east corner of the large trench a possible posthole feature was excavated. This has been carefully covered to preserve it.
At the north-west corner of the large trench there was a circular feature containing a lot of black organic matter. A sample of this was taken and examined under the microscope. Photographs, recordings and drawings were made of each grid section. Finds included pot, mostly Roman and some bone, including possibly a metacarpal or metatarsal from a horse. (Since this report the family have continued to excavate in this area — Grid 6 — and water is seeping into the bottom of the hole.)
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