Bedford Purlieus Wood, Thornhaugh near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire - Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results

Wessex Archaeology

Eight trenches were excavated by Time Team, to expand further on the information gained from NA’s work and to investigate areas inaccessible in 2005 and 2007. The trenches were concentrated on the north-south range of buildings, the courtyard area, the northern bank and a raised platform in the south-east corner. Trenches were also excavated in the second enclosure to the west and through one of the large quarry pits. The whole complex has been interpreted as a courtyard villa with associated ironworking.

The trenches excavated through the building range revealed them to be utilitarian and basic with no ‘high status’ elements; they were interpreted as domestic buildings - a possible kitchen and grain store. The raised platform was possibly the site of the villa’s bath-house, producing box flue tiles, painted plaster, opus signinum and lightweight tufa blocks for vaulting.

The western enclosure, initially interpreted by NA as industrial in nature, was confirmed as such by the identification of an iron ore-roasting floor. A trench through one of the quarry pits found evidence of iron ore extraction, the disused quarry being subsequently used as a dump for domestic waste from the villa.